'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Sees the White Worm Become a Key Player (SPOILERS)

This article contains spoilers for Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 2 of House of the Dragon and A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.

Season 1 of House of the Dragon saw Aegon Targaryen ascend to the throne following Viserys’s death — despite the late king’s requests that his daughter, Rhenerya, sit on the Iron Throne in his stead. Integral in this plot was Larys Strong, the Lord Confessor, who used his connection with the White Worm to gather intel that helped him put Aegon on the throne.

Before the end of the first season, though, Mysaria’s home was set aflame, seemingly a ploy to kill her before she could feed more information to Daemon and team black. By the end of the season, though, it wasn’t clear if she had managed to make it out alive. Did Larys manage to kill the White Worm? Here’s what we learned in the first couple of episodes of Season 2.

Despite Larys's best attempts to rid King’s Landing of team green’s potential enemies, it seems that Mysaria managed to make it out alive — but she’s far from unharmed. In Episode 1, she’s made it back to Daemon, who is far from pleased after learning of the White Worm’s willingness to sell information to his enemies. Angry, Daemon questions Mysaria extensively, asking her for details on team green’s movements.

But she claims has little information to give, and as a result she’s locked into their prison chambers.

Despite the best efforts of those close to the crown, the White Worm has evaded death — and she continues to have a key role in the Dance of the Dragons.

Though Rhaenyra initially resented Mysaria for her betrayal of her claim to the throne by selling information to team green, it doesn't take long for the White Worm to begin using her knowledge of secrets to help the Targaryen stake her claim to the throne again. In Episode 2, Rhaenyra admits that killing her or letting her go would only block her from a potential well of information. So she keeps her at Dragonstone, unharmed.

In George R.R. Martin's novel, Fire & Blood, the White Worm ultimately sides with Rhaenyra. Though Mysaria has a complicated past that includes sleeping with Daemon and a scandalous rumor that she was pregnant with his child, the two strike an unlikely alliance.

In the book, Mysaria is never a member of Rhaenyra's small council, but she becomes a solid figure at the queen's side. She not only shares details of the happenings at King's Landing that help aid her conquest, but she also dishes on Daemon's moves behind Rhaenyra's back (like when he takes a new lover).

Though the show is not entirely faithful to the book, Season 2 is already setting Mysaria up to be a key player in the Dance of the Dragons — and Episode 2 shows the beginning of her alliance with Rhaenyra.

Watch House of the Dragon on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on HBO and Max.