Criston objected to Rhaenyra
When confronted over his apparent bias towards teaching Alicent's children by Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) - Rhaenyra's lover and the biological father of her children - Ser Criston uses this opportunity to taunt Ser Harwin and also bully Rhaenyra's children.
6 Betraying Rhaenyra For Petty Reasons
He was her sworn shield and her constant companion. However, this close relationship ends long before the Dance of the Dragons. Criston comes to hate Rhaenyra and becomes her most fierce opponent. Alongside House Hightower, he also becomes Aegon II's biggest supporter.
After a quick and cordial exchange between the half-sister and the half-brother, Rhaenyra was forcefully separated from her son, and placed in front of Sunfyre, who burned her with dragonflame and then devoured her.
In defiance of his allegiances and position as the Queen's Hand, Corlys warned Addam of his impending imprisonment, placing blood over political alliances. Addam fled the scene upon his dragon, Seasmoke, and Corlys was beaten and imprisoned for his treachery of Queen Rhaenyra's orders.
Corlys was regarded as the most powerful of the regents. When he died of old age on the sixth day of the third moon of 132 AC, at the age of seventy-nine, his body was placed beneath the Iron Throne for a week. Marilda of Hull and her son, Alyn Velaryon, sailed Corlys's remains to Driftmark on Mermaid's Kiss.
Rhaenys and Corlys returned to Driftmark and in 92 AC she gave birth to a daughter, Laena Velaryon, and a son Laenor in 94 AC. Both House Velaryon and House Baratheon claimed that Laenor had a stronger claim to the throne, but Baelon remained King Jaehaerys's heir.
The queen is unsatisfied with the king's justice, so she quite literally takes matters into her own hands. She yoinks Aegon the Conqueror's dagger from Viserys and tries to stab Rhaenyra.
She was daughter to one king and mother to two more, yet she died a traitor's death for trying to usurp her brother's crown.
He didn't want Rhaenyra to run away with him because he loved her despite his claims to marry “for love.” Nor was he heartbroken over her refusal.
As is known from Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon will eventually lead to the Targaryen civil war between Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon: the Dance of Dragons. The reason why Criston and Rhaenyra having sex in House of the Dragon episode 4 is so important is due to Criston's loyalties during the Dance.
To leave her responsibilities, her betrothal, his vows, and to flee to Essos and marry him. In a way, a culmination of his fears, happiness, desperation, and feelings of shame made him fantasize about a way out.
As the two dragons struggled in the Battle Above the Gods Eye, Daemon plunged from Caraxes, wielding his sword Dark Sister and stabbing it into Aemond's remaining eye. Both dragons crashed into the Gods Eye, and Vhagar drowned with Aemond's body still chained to the saddle while Caraxes died on the shore.
We last saw her find out the truth in "We Light the Way" that Rhaenyra lost her virginity to Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).
Ser Criston Cole: According to Martin's The World of Ice and Fire, Ser Criston was born in 81 AC, making him 16 years Rhaenyra's senior. But Dragon's Ser Criston is likely much younger: Fabien Frankel, who portrays the knight onscreen, is 28 years old, only 8 years older than Alcock's young Rhaenyra.
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Episode 6! “The Princess and the Queen” opens up with Rhaenyra giving birth to her third child, another boy. Laenor decides they'll name him Joffrey after his late lover who Criston beat to death right before he and Rhaenyra wed.
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) finally had sex on House of the Dragon. After teasing their deep connection for weeks, making out in a brothel, and flirting their way through King's Landing, uncle and niece at long last did the dirty.
Rhaenyra has been pregnant with her daughter Visenya since House of the Dragon's latest and last time jump, and it is heartbreaking to see her deal with this loss. The way in which the scene plays out makes it especially disturbing. RELATED: House of the Dragon: Which Dragon is Daemon Singing To?
In House of the Dragon's season 1 finale, Rhaenyra learns about the tragic death of her beloved son Lucerys Velaryon, after having sent the young boy to deliver a message to Lord Borros Baratheon.
Daemon shows his genuine care and attention to Rhaenyra several times before the two marry. This doesn't take away from the many destructive and inappropriate parts of their relationship, but the books imply that Daemon does love Rhaenyra.
She was betrayed when she returned to Dragonstone and handed over to her half-brother, Aegon II. Without batting an eye, the King handed over Rhaenyra to be eaten alive by his dragon, Sunfyre.
At the end of “Driftmark,” it looks as though Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen have conspired to kill Rhaenyra's husband, Laenor Velaryon, in order to pave the way for their own marriage.
Aegon II's quick but viscerally brutal slaying of Queen Rhaenyra doesn't seem to do her justice.
Eventually, it's Daemon and Rhaenyra's two sons who end up sitting on the Iron Throne, but is that for a future series? The Velaryons survive, but in recent years Ser Corlys has come to support the Greens, after falling out with Rhaenyra and being accused of treason (unfairly).