Rhaenyra's Wedding: A Fateful Day

In the fifth episode of House of the Dragon, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's wedding to Laenor Velaryon ends in bloodshed and tragedy. The pre-wedding feast is marred by violence, as Ser Criston Cole, Rhaenyra's lover, beats her future husband's lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, to death. The fight is sparked by a misunderstanding between Criston and Joffrey, who both agree to keep their lovers' secrets. However, Criston, furious over his broken honour, snaps and unleashes his rage on the unsuspecting Joffrey. Following the brawl, Criston attempts to take his own life but is stopped by Queen Alicent, who may be plotting against Rhaenyra. Despite the chaos, Rhaenyra and Laenor marry in an intimate ceremony, with the blood of the tragic events still staining the ground.

Rhaenyra and Laenor's wedding feast turns bloody

Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon's wedding feast was a bloody affair, with the former lovers of the bride and groom coming to blows.

The pre-wedding banquet saw Ser Criston Cole, the Princess's former lover, approached by Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, the secret lover of Laenor. Joffrey suggested that the two men make a pact to protect their respective lovers and their secrets. However, Criston, still furious over being rejected by Rhaenyra, was less than thrilled at the suggestion. It is unclear who threw the first punch, but Criston's rage got the better of him, and he beat Joffrey to death, his face a bloody, unrecognisable mess.

The fight caused chaos at the feast, with Rhaenyra and Laenor's families, the Targaryens and Velaryons, left reeling. The wedding ceremony went ahead, but the bloodshed had already set the tone for the future of the Iron Throne.

The fight also had a profound impact on Criston, who, horrified at his actions, fled to the godswood, intending to take his own life. However, Queen Alicent, who had recently learned of Criston's affair with Rhaenyra, found him and stopped him just in time. It seemed that Alicent was hoping to gain Criston as an ally in her bid to secure the throne for her son, Aegon.

The wedding feast was a turning point, with the seeds of war and the Dance of the Dragons sown. The bloody affair marked the end of the romance between Rhaenyra and Criston and signalled a shift in their motivations and loyalties.

Criston kills Joffrey

The wedding of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon was a tense affair, with the bride and groom both aware of each other's extramarital lovers. Rhaenyra's lover, Ser Criston Cole, was particularly unhappy with the match, as he had previously confessed his love for Rhaenyra and asked her to run away with him, only to be rejected.

During the wedding celebrations, Criston was approached by Laenor's lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, who acknowledged their respective affairs with the bride and groom and suggested that they work together to protect their lovers and their secrets. Criston, however, was still furious about Rhaenyra's rejection and the fact that he had broken his Kingsguard vows for her.

It is not entirely clear who started the fight, but Criston, blinded by rage, beat Joffrey to death in front of horrified onlookers. Laenor was left sobbing over his dead lover's body.

After the fight, Criston, realising the enormity of his actions, fled to the godswood, intending to take his own life. However, he was stopped just in time by Queen Alicent, who had previously absolved him of his sins and was hoping to gain an ally in her bid to secure the throne for her son, Aegon.

Criston attempts suicide

Ser Criston Cole, a knight of House Cole and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under Aegon II Targaryen, attempts suicide at the wedding of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon. Criston's motivations for suicide stem from his guilt and anger over his affair with Rhaenyra, which resulted in him breaking his Kingsguard vows of chastity.

Criston had been in a romantic relationship with Rhaenyra, which culminated in him suggesting they elope to Essos and get married. However, Rhaenyra refused, prioritising her duty to the Crown over her love for Criston. This rejection left Criston feeling scorned and furious, as he had soiled his white cloak—a symbol of his honour as a knight—and felt there was no way to restore it.

At the wedding feast, Criston's anger and guilt reach a breaking point when he is approached by Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, Laenor's paramour. Joffrey subtly hints at knowing about Criston's affair with Rhaenyra and suggests they protect each other's secrets. This perceived threat pushes Criston over the edge, and he brutally beats Joffrey to death in front of the horrified guests.

Overcome with shame and despair, Criston flees to the godswood, intending to end his life. He removes his white cloak and sword and kneels on the ground, preparing to stab himself with his dagger. However, his suicide attempt is interrupted by Queen Alicent Hightower, who calls out to him.

Alicent, who is aware of Criston's broken vow due to his earlier confession to her, has shown him mercy and chosen not to expose him. Instead, she offers him a chance at redemption by forming an alliance against Rhaenyra, who has now become their common foe. Criston, feeling indebted to Alicent for saving his life, pledges his loyalty to her, setting the stage for a power struggle between the two women vying for the Iron Throne.

Alicent stops Criston

Queen Alicent Hightower stopping Ser Criston Cole from taking his own life is a pivotal moment in House of the Dragon, episode 5, "We Light the Way".

The scene in question takes place in the Godswood, where Criston, in a fit of despair, intends to end his life with a dagger. Alicent's intervention is significant as it marks a turning point in their relationship and sets up future conflicts in the series.

Earlier in the episode, Criston confesses to Alicent that he broke his Kingsguard vows of chastity by sleeping with Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Alicent, instead of exposing him, thanks him for his honesty and lets him go. This unexpected act of mercy from the Queen sows the seeds of loyalty in Criston towards her.

Following the wedding feast, Criston, overcome with rage, kills Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, the secret lover of Rhaenyra's betrothed, Laenor Velaryon. This violent act stems from Criston's own romantic rejection by Rhaenyra and his anger over his broken honour. After the fight, Criston flees to the Godswood, intending to take his own life. Alicent, however, finds him just in time and stops him from committing suicide.

Alicent's decision to spare Criston's life not once but twice is driven by her own political ambitions. With Criston now indebted to her, she aims to gain an ally in her quest to secure the Iron Throne for her son, Prince Aegon Targaryen, instead of Rhaenyra. Alicent's loyalty has shifted from House Targaryen to her own family, House Hightower, symbolised by her wearing a green dress at the wedding, the colour of war for House Hightower.

The dynamic between Alicent and Criston is now fraught with complexity. Alicent has shown mercy to Criston, but it is also a display of power. She has effectively saved Criston for herself, knowing that he will be loyal to her as she plots against Rhaenyra. Criston, on the other hand, is torn between his love for Rhaenyra and his newfound loyalty to Alicent, setting up an intriguing power dynamic between the two characters.

Viserys collapses

King Viserys I Targaryen's collapse at the wedding of Rhaenyra and Laenor is the culmination of a series of health issues that have been plaguing him throughout the first season of "House of the Dragon". Prior to the wedding, Viserys suffers from seasickness, frequent coughing, and a collapse upon arriving at King's Landing. During the wedding, he experiences a nosebleed due to the stress of the fight between Criston Cole and Joffrey Lonmouth. After the fight, Viserys gives a speech in praise of House Velaryon and expresses his hope that the marriage will unite the two families. However, the moment is interrupted by the late arrival of Queen Alicent, who is dressed in green to signal her loyalty to House Hightower and her intention to place her son, Aegon, on the Iron Throne instead of Rhaenyra. Viserys continues his speech and concludes by wishing for a second Age of Dragons in Westeros.

As the wedding feast continues, Viserys observes a conversation between Daemon and Gerold Royce, after which Daemon joins the feast floor to dance with Rhaenyra. Viserys watches angrily as the two come close to kissing, only to be interrupted by a cry from beyond the hall. A brawl soon erupts on the dance floor, causing Viserys to bleed profusely from his nose due to the stress. Following the ordeal, the guests are sent away, and the seven days of festivities are cancelled. Rhaenyra and Laenor are quickly married in the messy throne room, and Viserys collapses shortly after the vows are spoken.

While Viserys's collapse at the wedding is shocking, it is not unexpected given his declining health. The illness has progressed quickly throughout the season, but according to George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood", Viserys's death will not come until after a 10-year time jump.

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