In House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, Lord Larys Strong takes away a drink from King Aegon II, and there’s a specific connotation as to why. Matthew Needham plays Larys Strong in House of the Dragon’s cast, and he’s one of the more questionable characters in the ensemble in terms of his motivations. Like Littlefinger or Varys in Game of Thrones, Larys plays the game of information, seemingly motivated by his own ends. But with this choice in episode 6, there seems to be more going on in his mind than just self-promotion.
After being betrayed by Aemond Targaryen at the Battle of Rook’s Rest, Aegon II is out of commission for the time being as the maesters of the Red Keep treat him back to health. Aemond Targaryen rules the small council and the Seven Kingdoms as Prince Regent, making hasty decisions and imposing his will. Aemond has proven to be warlike throughout the season, and though Aegon had a fair amount of his own impotence, he was far easier for the adults to control. House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6’s ending sets up new issues for the Greens.
Larys Stops King Aegon From Drinking Milk Of The Poppy
Milk Of The Poppy Is The Westeros Painkiller
In George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire universe, Milk of the Poppy is a potion used by maesters to help soothe the pain of patients who have sustained injury. In Game of Thrones season 1, Robert Baratheon is treated with Milk of the Poppy to ease him painlessly into his death after he’s skewered by a boar. In House of the Dragon season 1, Viserys Targaryen is constantly on Milk of the Poppy to help him through his pain, but during this time, Alicent Hightower rules in his place.
Larys Strong denies King Aegon the potion because he does not want the king’s mind to be dulled.
Milk of the Poppy may relieve pain, but in doing so, it dulls the mind. Larys Strong denies King Aegon the potion because he does not want the king’s mind to be dulled. He wants Aegon to suffer through the pain and return to his natural state of mind as quickly as possible, or at least as close to it as he can after the horrific battle injuries.
Is Larys Trying To Help King Aegon, Or Hurt Him?
Larys Has More Power Over Aegon Than Aemond, So He Wants The King Healthy
In this moment, Larys Strong is trying to help Aegon, but it’s also a self-serving decision. Larys has far more control when Aegon is in power than he does with Aemond and, therefore, wants the king to recover and return to his seat of power as soon as possible. In general, Larys seems to side with the greens because he sees Aegon offering the realm the most potential stability, which he likely believes he can thrive in. However, future House of the Dragon seasons will continue to explore his motivations.