King Aegon II Targaryen is left for dead at the end of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, raising major questions about his fate and what happens next. After two years of waiting, the Dance of the Dragons explodes into action in this installment, helmed by Game of Thrones veteran Alan Taylor (whose credits include “Baelor” and “Beyond the Wall”). Criston Cole and Aemond Targaryen’s plans come to fruition, albeit with a few hiccups.

The target is Rook’s Rest, the seat of Lord Staunton, who sits on Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Small Council. Things goes awry, however, when the king himself shows up on his dragon, Sunfyre. The result is a dramatic clash between three dragons – Sunfyre, Vhagar, and Meleys – that very certainly leaves Meleys and her rider, Rhaenys Targaryen, dead, but Aegon’s own fate is less concrete in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4’s ending.

King Aegon (Probably) Isn’t Dead At The End Of House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 4

It Would Be A Major Shock If He Had Died

Although the end of the episode doesn’t confirm it either way, it’s reasonable to assume King Aegon did not die in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4. Although the wounds he suffered definitely could have been fatal – indeed, that all three dragonriders weren’t burned to ash seems a minor miracle – there are a few reasons why Aegon is likely still alive, the biggest of which is that, well, he doesn’t die at this point in the book.

The show has made several changes to George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, of course, including the fates of characters – for instance, Laenor Velaryon is still alive (as far as we know), when he dies in the book. However, the circumstances are still broadly the same, whereas killing Aegon at this point wouldn’t just be changing his fate, but rewriting the entire story. To remove him at this point would be like killing Tyrion Lannister halfway through Game of Thrones, such is his importance to the story and ongoing civil war.

Aemond is moving toward the body, seemingly ready to finish the job, which further indicates Aegon is still alive.

It’s also a golden rule of TV that if we don’t get explicit confirmation of a death, it probably means it didn’t happen. Aemond is moving toward the body, seemingly ready to finish the job, which further indicates Aegon is still alive. That’s not to say he won’t be horribly wounded, but he will at least be breathing.

Why Aegon Joined The Battle At Rook’s Rest

The King Felt He Needed To Prove Himself

With Aegon’s fate in question, it’s also worth looking at the events that led to him almost losing his life (again, working on the assumption that he isn’t dead, but if he is, then we can give up knowing anything about where this story is going). Aegon being at Rook’s Rest wasn’t planned, but the king has been increasingly drawn toward taking decisive, personal action for a while now. It was true after Blood and Cheese killed Jaehaerys, and it’s only grown inside him.

Add in his emotional immaturity, his ongoing grief, and plenty of alcohol, and it’s a mix that drives him to fly into battle to prove himself not only to those around him, but to himself as well.

He had to sit in Small Council meetings and learn of plans he had no part in making, looking inferior to his brother. He gets told by his own mother that he should do nothing, and essentially be a puppet king while others do the ruling. Add in his emotional immaturity, his ongoing grief, and plenty of alcohol, and it’s a mix that drives him to fly into battle to prove himself not only to those around him, but to himself as well. Never underestimate what a fragile ego can make someone do, even if it risks their life.

How Aegon’s Fate In House Of The Dragon Changes The Book

HBO’s Show Has A Big Difference To George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood

Aegon is very badly wounded at the Battle at Rook’s Rest in Fire & Blood, but how it happens is different. Rather than Aegon turning up out of the blue, he’s part of Cole’s plan: both Sunfyre and Vhagar are lying in wait, and spring into action when Rhaenys arrives on Meleys.

The end result [in the book] is the same as the show, but there’s no account of Aemond turning against his brother.

The pair both attack their rival, resulting in a three-dragon fight that sends all three of them crashing down. Rhaenys and Meleys die, Vhagar and Aemond are unharmed, and Sunfyre and Aegon are both seriously wounded. The end result is the same as the show, but there’s no account of Aemond turning against his brother.

Why Aemond Tried To Kill Aegon

There Are Several Reasons Behind The Attempted Kinslaying

Aegon heads into the Battle at Rook’s Rest in part because of Aemond, and in turn, Aemond tries to kill his brother because of what he’s said and done in the past. This was somewhat set up in the episode prior, when Aegon found Aemond at the brothel with Sylvi and proceeded to taunt his brother about it. Aemond’s response suggested it wouldn’t be forgotten, but the roots of this run much deeper.

…Aemond does not forgive or forget slights, and no one has slighted him more than Aegon.

Aemond killing Lucerys Velaryon may have been an accident, but he was deliberately flying after him because he wanted some sense of revenge for losing an eye. That shows Aemond does not forgive or forget slights, and no one has slighted him more than Aegon. His brother tormented him over his lack of a dragon far more than Jacaerys and Lucerys did. His brother is the one who seemingly forced him into having his first sexual encounter with Sylvi. These will all be things Aemond is remembering as he attacks him with Vhagar.

This is not purely vengeance, though. Aemond has long believed that he, not Aegon, should be king. He even told him as much, and House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 highlights it further: he’s the one making the war plans, he’s the one flying the biggest dragon, he’s the one who speaks perfect High Valyrian. With Jaehaerys gone and Maelor seemingly cut from House of the Dragon (for now), Aemond is heir to the Iron Throne. This was his chance to take it.

House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Remaining Episodes

Episode #
Release Date

5
July 14

6
July 21

7
July 28

8
August 4

What Happens Next To King Aegon Based On The Book

Aemond Gets What He Wants (Sort Of)

Aegon is seriously injured at Rook’s Rest in Fire & Blood. The fight leaves him with several broken bones and severe burns on half his body, which leave him incapacitated for around a year. Sunfyre is also badly injured and unable to fly for a long time. In Aegon’s stead, Aemond becomes Prince Regent. He sits on the Iron Throne and wears the Conqueror’s crown, finally becoming the ruler – if not king – that he’s long wanted to be. However, Aegon does eventually recover enough to resume his duties, although he carries the signs of his injuries afterward.

Since this story exists in the book then, despite the differences in how it happened, House of the Dragon season 2 will presumably be doing the same thing. Expect Aemond to assume control, and Aegon to be mostly out of action for a few episodes.

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.