King Aegon II Targaryen remains bedridden after the Battle at Rook’s Rest in House of the Dragon season 2, with his life still in danger from Aemond and his political adversaries. In House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, the King suffered near-fatal injuries when Aemond tried to kill Aegon on Vhagar, hoping it would speed along his inheritance of the Iron Throne. While Aegon survived, he’s spent the last few episodes hardly able to speak, breathe, or move, leading Aemond to give him a cruel warning and Larys to caution him about how others will treat his disability.
Given the state of Aegon in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6’s ending, Larys’ suggestion that Aegon will never be able to run or fight again isn’t farfetched. Larys therefore tells Aegon that his wits will be his future power, which is exactly the opposite of what Aemond wants from his brother. As the King is given his stone ball from the Small Council, Aegon lies about not remembering that Aemond attacked him, with the Prince Regent threatening him to stay silent. While Aegon’s prospects are currently grim, Fire & Blood reveals there’s much more to his future story.
Aegon Does Walk Again In House Of The Dragon
Aegon Walks Again, But He Never Fully Recovers
Though they’re unsure of his healing process in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book confirms that Aegon will walk again. It’ll take a significant portion of the war’s early fighting for Aegon to heal enough to walk, but it will happen – even if his movement is nowhere near his abilities prior to his injuries. Aegon will never fully heal or recover from his injuries and burns, and his scars will always remain in House of the Dragon.
According to Fire & Blood, Aegon is bedridden for the remainder of this year within House of the Dragon’s timeline. The book explains that the King has a broken hip, broken rips, armor melted into his body, and severe burns covering over half of his body, and his pain is so unbearable that Aegon drinks milk of the poppy to sleep for much of this time. Though he walks, King Aegon II Targaryen is “bent and twisted” until the end of his life.
Aemond Probably Won’t Try To Kill Aegon Again
Aemond Will Likely Leave Aegon Alone If He Remains Silent & Hidden Away
The reveal that Aemond tried to kill Aegon in the Battle at Rook’s rest, rather than Aegon’s injuries being the result of a direct attack by Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys, is only featured in the TV show, not the book. Fire & Blood had never suggested that Aemond tried to kill Aegon at any point during the Dance of the Dragons, so there’s no indication from the book that it will happen again. Of course, House of the Dragon’s TV canon is different from the book canon, meaning it’s still possible that Aemond will try to finish the job.
Aegon becomes a threat if he reveals the truth about Aemond’s attack at Rook’s Rest, so as long as the King denies remembering what happened, Aemond may keep him alive.
However, given how little faith the maesters and others have had in Aegon’s ability to recover in House of the Dragon, it seems that Aemond doesn’t feel too threatened by his brother at the moment. Aegon becomes a threat if he reveals the truth about Aemond’s attack at Rook’s Rest, so as long as the King denies remembering what happened, Aemond may keep him alive. Their scene together in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 reveals that both understand that Aemond has Aegon in the palm of his hand, and if the latter reveals the truth, the Prince Regent will kill him.
Currently, Aemond is more concerned with those on the Small Council who have more power and opportunity to undermine his authority than Aegon. This is exactly why Aemond removes Alicent from the Small Council, as she stands in the way of his ability to go unquestioned in his authority and obtain his revenge against Team Black. Once Aegon begins to recover more in House of the Dragon, however, Aemond may attempt to fulfill his plans of officially ascending the Iron Throne.
What Happens To Aegon After House Of The Dragon Season 2
Aegon Will Rule As King Again… For A Time
Aegon may steadily recover from his injuries in House of the Dragon, but that doesn’t mean he has an optimistic future in the war. According to Fire & Blood, Aemond is away in the Riverlands when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, with Aegon being able to secretly flee the Red Keep for Dragonstone with the help of Larys Strong. Aegon remains hidden on Dragonstone for much of the war, and he’s still there when Helaena dies by suicide in King’s Landing and Aemond dies dueling Daemon in the Battle Above the Gods Eye.
After Rhaenyra herself must flee King’s Landing due to the smallfolk rioting, she returns to Dragonstone and finds King Aegon II Targaryen and his dragon Sunfyre still alive there. He immediately has Rhaenyra captured and placed in front of Sunfyre, at which time Aegon kills Rhaenyra by commanding Sunfyre to burn and devour his sister. Aegon then briefly returns to King’s Landing with the war still going, though he’s unable to climb the Iron Throne due to his injuries.
It’s unclear exactly who kills Aegon, but the conspirators are identified as Corlys Velaryon, Larys Strong, Ser Perkin the Flea, and other members of Team Green.
As Team Black’s armies surround King’s Landing to avenge Rhaenyra’s death, King Aegon II Targaryen is fatally poisoned by his own men. The book implies that Aegon’s wine is poisoned, with his killers being condemned by Cregan Stark during the Hour of the Wolf. It’s unclear exactly who kills Aegon, but the conspirators are identified as Corlys Velaryon, Larys Strong, Ser Perkin the Flea, and other members of Team Green. Leaving no sons or brothers behind, House of the Dragon’s King Aegon II Targaryen is succeeded by Rhaenyra’s surviving son Aegon III Targaryen.