WARNING: This article contains spoilers from the fifth episode of House of the Dragon. Continue reading at your own risk… House of the Dragon’s fifth episode, “We Light the Way,” begins in the Vale, following a person that has just been discussed on the series to this point. Woman Rhea Royce, head of House Royce and the standard of Runestone, is the spouse that Daemon has so openly despised over the first couple of episodes. The first scene in the episode follows Rhea going off on a chase, just to be met by a hooded Daemon walking along the street. After she accurately guesses that Viserys finally had enough of Daemon, she understood what he’s there to do. He intentionally spooks her horse, causing it to fall on top of her and crush her spirit. Daemon kills his better half as the camera cuts away.

The Targaryen boats are sailing south as Viserys is going to propose a marriage between Laenor Valyron and Rhaenrya. He’s obviously getting worse continuously. Back in King’s Landing, Otto confronts Alicent about her decision to trust Rhaenrya. He tells her that Rhaenyra becoming sovereign will cause battle all through the domain, and that the best way to secure her case will be to murder Alicent’s youngsters, her half-siblings. He insists that she give her best for ensure Aegon becomes king. After their conversation, Larys Strong finds Alicent and slyly informs him of the tea that the maester brought Rhaenyra, indicating that it was indeed to hold her back from getting pregnant.

Viserys and his party show up to Elevated Tide to meet with Corlys about the proposal. Corlys informs him of Woman Rhea’s death, Rhaenys says she was killed after being tossed from her horse. She’s known to be a skilled rider and tracker, so they infer that something else is going on. In regards to the proposal, the two parties concur that the youngsters will take the Velaryon name until one of them takes over as ruler. Around then, that youngster’s name will be changed to Targaryen.

Rhaenyra and Laenor settle on an understanding about their marriage. They know it’s their obligation to create heirs, yet neither are very interested in each other. Rhaenyra knows that Laenor is attracted to men, and she tells him he can continue to pursue that desire, as lengthy as she can continue to pursue hers. Rhaenys believes Laenor will be in peril with this marriage, for the same reason Otto worries about his grandkids. The existence of Aegon keeps Rhaenyra’s standard from truly being seen as legitimate by a larger number of people all through the domain.

Laenor and his sweetheart, Joffrey, speak about the terms of the arrangement with Rhaenyra. Joffrey mentions that Rhaenyra must also have someone specific in mind. Rhaenyra and Criston Cole have their own conversation, wherein Criston explains that he wants Rhaenyra to part with everything, since she hates elements of the crown anyway. He wants her to surrender rule so they can simply be together and carry on with free lives away from the entirety of the mess. She tells him she is the crown, yet he obviously doesn’t have any desire to be a secret darling.

After returning to King’s Landing, Alicent summons Criston Cole to ask him about Rhaenyra and Daemon. He believes she’s talking about his experience with Rhaenyra and confesses to everything, expecting a punishment. She simply lets him go. Viserys is in his chambers, looking worse than ever, his disease rotting almost his whole arm. He ponders his inheritance, wondering assuming years of keeping harmony and doing nothing to further the family was the correct way to live.

The wedding celebrations begin, with guests arriving from everywhere Westeros. The King is drawn nearer by Rhea Royce’s cousin, who is talking about Rhea’s death when he’s interrupted by the appearance of House Velaryon. The Velaryons are followed by Daemon, a face many weren’t expecting to see — including King Viserys. He begins to speak however is interrupted by the late appearance of Sovereign Alicent. She’s wearing a green dress, and it is clarified that the signal of the Great Tower changes to green when the banners are being called to war. She’s making a massive statement and foreshadowing what’s to come.

Joffrey, Laenor’s sweetheart, figures out that Ser Criston Cole is the darling that Rhaenyra is hiding. He relays this information to Laenor during the celebration. Rhea’s cousin accuses Daemon of killing her before the king, a trade that ultimately ends with Daemon saying he’ll be coming to the Vale to gather his inheritance from his late spouse. Daemon then has a flirtatious conversation with Laenor’s sister, setting up possibly another couple between the Targaryens and Velaryons.

Joffrey approaches Criston about keeping each other’s secrets, which doesn’t sit well with Criston considering how ashamed he feels about the whole situation. During a dance, a battle breaks out on the floor. Criston attacks Joffrey and beats him to death, leaving Laenor in shambles.

Criston goes off all alone and takes off his protection. He plans to end his own life, holding his sharp edge to his stomach. He’s stopped by Alicent. In the mean time, Rhaenyra and Laenor are hitched in a small, private function. The wedding ends with King Viserys collapsing on the floor.