Otto Hightower is dispatched with a piece of HOTD episode 1 memorabilia that is special to Rhaenyra and Alicent along with peace conditions.
In the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, Alicent sends Otto Hightower with a memento from their earlier times to demonstrate that she still feels profoundly about Rhaenyra. In the previous 20 years, Alicent and Rhaenyra have changed from being best friends to adversaries to potential friends once more. Any chance of a genuine reconciliation has been destroyed by Alicent and Otto’s theft of the Iron Throne and crowning of Aegon. Despite this, Alicent and Rhaenyra still have feelings for one another, and Alicent sent an olive branch to Rhaenyra to try to prevent a conflict.
In the tenth episode of House of the Dragon, Otto offers Rhaenyra peace terms from Alicent, which she rejects, but she almost changes her mind after seeing Alicent’s gift. In the first episode of House of the Dragon, Alicent and Rhaenyra read a history book together as teenagers. Otto gives Rhaenyra a page from that book. The page, which young Rhaenyra tore out of the book as an act of rebellion, described Princess Nymeria leading the 10,000 Rhoynar ships to Dorne.
What Alicent Sends Rhaenyra in the Book Really Means
In the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, Alicent gave Rhaenyra the page, which means she has kept it for the past 20 years, demonstrating that her love for Rhaenyra has never truly died. By handing Rhaenyra the page, Alicent is expressing her desire to end their relationship on the best possible terms by harnessing the love they formerly shared (aside from the Iron Throne). The page also represents Alicent’s lack of retaliation or malice against Rhaenyra in crowning Aegon, and her lack of desire for harm to befall her or her family.
Alicent sent a kind gift in the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, but Rhaenyra and Daemon rejected it, and she can’t hold them responsible. Although Alicent may not have intended to launch a war, by snatching the crown, she did. Given that Otto had been organizing the coup for 20 years, Aegon would have been crowned regardless, but Alicent was involved and even played a key role in stealing the throne from Rhaenyra. The only chance Alicent has to persuade the blacks that peace is the best course of action is to force Otto to give Rhaenyra the book page, as the 14-year-old Alicent and Rhaenyra who read that book together would never deliberately harm the other.
Was Alicent’s Offer Going To Be Accepted By Rhaenyra?
As part of her peace proposal, Alicent promised to give the Dragonstone to Rhaenyra and Jace, recognize Lucerys as the rightful successor to Driftmark, and appoint Aegon the Younger and Viserys as his squire and cupbearer, respectively. Queen Rhaenyra was debating the stipulations, but Daemon flatly rejected them. Rhaenyra’s commitment to Aegon’s prophecy, not the Hightowers’ kind offer, would drive her to accept the peace terms in House of the Dragon. Her hesitation was undoubtedly influenced by her desire to no longer be enemies with Alicent, but uniting the realm for the Song of Ice and Fire is of far greater significance. But since Viserys required Rhaenyra to occupy the Iron Throne, going to war was the only viable choice.
Rhaenyra was not likely to accept Alicent’s proposal. Even if she had, Daemon would have exacted retaliation against the Hightowers for the death of King Viserys. Rhaenyra accepting the demands may still have resulted in more betrayal by the Hightowers and animosity between their families since the gap between the greens and blacks was too vast to be bridged. Rhaenyra hesitated to declare war, but peace was never a possibility since Otto wouldn’t risk Rhaenyra and Daemon rebelling against Aegon by leaving them alive. Aemond Targaryen satisfied Rhaenyra’s desire to avoid spilling first blood by murdering Lucerys in the climax of House of the Dragon episode 10 despite her opposition.
