The fourth episode of 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 delivered significant plot developments, including a brutal act of violence orchestrated by Ormund Hightower and a calculated deception by Daemon Targaryen. The episode concluded with Ormund forcing his young ward, Daeron Targaryen, to commit his first murder, while Daemon returned from the Vale with a story that masked a difficult truth about his daughter Rhaena.
Daeron's First Kill
The episode's grim turn saw Ormund Hightower compel Daeron to kill Leo, the brother of Kat, who had intervened when a Hightower soldier assaulted her. This act served as a harsh coming-of-age ritual, intended by Ormund to mold Daeron into a ruthless individual prepared for the impending conflict. Ormund's mentorship aims to instill a Machiavellian mindset in the young prince, a strategy that actor Freddie Fox, who plays Gwayne Hightower, previously teased as a point of contention between his character and Ormund regarding how to influence Daeron.
Leo's death was partly a consequence of his defiance against a Hightower soldier, but also a means to break Daeron's innocence. The incident began when Ormund's forces occupied the small market town of Tumbleton. A soldier's assault on Kat led to Leo's defense of his sister-in-law. Although Ormund initially appeared to uphold order by ordering the soldier punished, his underlying anger at Leo's challenge to his authority, coupled with his desire to toughen Daeron, sealed Leo's fate. Ultimately, Leo was killed by Tessarion, the dragon.
Daemon's Deception
Daemon Targaryen's return from the Vale was marked by a significant deception. He presented Rhaenyra with a charred skull, claiming he had killed the rider of the dragon Sheepstealer. However, Mysaria quickly perceived the falsehood in his account. The truth was that Daemon discovered his daughter, Rhaena, had tamed the wild dragon. Horrified by Rhaena's dangerous proximity to the dragon, Daemon urged her to abandon it, but she refused and asked him to lie to Rhaenyra on her behalf. After Rhaena and Sheepstealer departed, Daemon encountered a shepherd and devised a plan to conceal Rhaena's involvement.
This storyline echoes elements from George R.R. Martin's 'Fire & Blood,' where a character named Nettles tames Sheepstealer. In the book, Daemon and Nettles later collaborate against Aemond, and Daemon ultimately helps Nettles escape when Rhaenyra, gripped by paranoia, orders her death. The show's portrayal of Daemon's deception also draws parallels to 'Game of Thrones,' specifically Theon Greyjoy's act of killing and burning two other boys to falsely claim he had killed Bran and Rickon Stark.
While Daemon did not kill his daughter, his act of killing and burning a shepherd served as a ruse to protect Rhaena and maintain his fabricated story for Rhaenyra.