Diksha Sundriyal
The world of Westeros is full of mystery and magic, and in HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon,’ Harrenhal becomes the seat of that intrigue. One of the most mysterious characters of the show so far has been Alys Rivers. She first appeared in the second season, befriending Daemon Targaryen and leading him to a revelation that confirmed his dedication to Rhaenyra’s cause. In the third season, she hosts Aemond Targaryen in Harrenhal, with whom her relationship is completely different. Amid all this, the true nature of her existence and intent in the cursed castle remains a mystery, but in the Season 3 finale, she reveals something that completely rewires her character. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Alys Claims to be the Wife of Harren Hoare
After saving Aemond from dying at the hands of Alicent, who poisoned him, Alys tells him the story that dates back to the time of Aegon the Conqueror. She reveals that when the dragonrider took over Westeros, Harren Hoare, aka Harren the Black, thought his castle, built to survive anything, would save him. But didn’t factor in dragonfire, and in the end, Aegon burned the castle down, and with its residents. This marked the end of Harren’s bloodline, though one of his sons survived. The boy was badly burnt, and his mother, intent on keeping him alive, called for maesters from every corner of the Seven Kingdoms. When they couldn’t help her, she found an alternative, less conventional path.
She turned towards the powers older than man, residing in the forests of the kingdom. But even their old magic couldn’t undo the damage caused by Balerion’s fire. Eventually, the boy died, and his mother tried to die with him, only to discover that the dark magic she used came with a price she must now pay. She was cursed, unable to die, and forced to stay in Harrenhal, watching one lord after another trying to make their home in its halls and then dying horrible deaths. Alys also mentions that the woman was stripped of all her titles, including her name, so now her very own home is no longer hers. The woman in the story is herself, which shocks Aemond, because that means she is over a hundred years old.
Since this isn’t the first time that a character much older than they appear has shown up in the world of Westeros, it is not difficult to believe that Alys could be one such person. Clearly, whatever Faustian bargain she made for the sake of her own came back to bite her, forcing her to stay alive so she cannot reunite with her son through death. What makes this whole thing more interesting is that this is a new addition to the TV show, and this story, or a specific mention of Harren the Black’s wife, who made such a deal, does not appear in the works of George R.R. Martin. However, the show’s writers seem to have played into the gaps in the story about Alys and the cursed nature of Harrenhal, lending some credibility to Alys’ account.
House of the Dragon Fills the Gaps in Alys’ Story From the Books
The fact that Alys was once the Lady of Harrenhal explains why she has so much interest in reclaiming the castle as her own. It was taken away from her by a Targaryen, which is why she believes only a Targaryen can get it back for her. Her interest in having a son with Aemond is also explained by her grief of losing a son more than a hundred years ago, and perhaps, having another, with a Targaryen no less, would break her curse for good. In the books, Alys Rivers remains a mysterious character. Her origins are never truly explained, but it is believed that she is an illegitimate daughter born in House Strong. Interestingly, it is also mentioned that she looks young for her age, along with the fact that she can see the future, or rather has visions of it.
She is considered a witch by many, and this allegation not only stays with her but also intensifies even after the war is over. Meanwhile, the connection to Harren is not mentioned in the book, but then, neither is the name of any of his wives. By tradition of Ironborns, Harren takes several salt wives, and is known to have had at least four legitimate sons, all of whom died during the war with Aegon the Conqueror. Later, another character claims to be sired by him, and his parentage is never explained. Thus, the writer leaves many gaps in the story of House Hoare to lend some legitimacy to Alys’ claims.
Considering that, she would be around 150 years old during the events of the Dance of the Dragons. Interestingly, her story is yet to take many twists and turns, from the fated Battle Above the Gods Eye to her mysterious disappearance from Westerosi history. By creating a character with so many unknown variables, Martin has left a lot of space for the writers of ‘House of the Dragon’ to concoct their own version of her story, including her past and, more importantly, her future.
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