House of the Dragon season 2 leak teases a major new character

For the uninitiated, Alys Rivers is arguably the most prominent remaining character from George RR Martins game of Thrones precursor Fire & Blood not have been presented house of the dragon yet (without being disrespectful to the incoming Cregan Stark, who is also yet to make his debut). The lowborn bastard child of House Strong is not only a key player in the Dance of the Dragons, but also an important figure in the story of Westerosi itself.

Alys Rivers is, for lack of a better word, a witch. The world of game of Thrones has very few actual magic users…or at least magic users like you would see in Middle-earth or any game dungeons. Aside from the obviously powerful Melisandre, the magical folks from George RR Martin’s world leave a little more room for skepticism and interpretation. Alys’ magical abilities fall within the historical realm of “might be real, might be evil rumors spread about her by weak, superstitious men”.

Although Alys is at least 40 years old, she looks unusually (some would say preternaturally) young for her age. The many secondary sources that make up the narrative Fire & Blood disagree about their true parentage. Some believe that Lord Lyonel Strong impregnated a maid, others say a wood witch, while some say Lord Lyonel was not her father at all. However, her bastard surname “Rivers” indicates non-marital noble lineage. Alys lives and works as a wet nurse at Castle Harrenhal in the Riverlands, which is occupied by House Stark. It is there that her role in Dance of the Dragons begins and that is where the prelude scenes filmed by Beecham appear to have begun.

Accordingly Redanian Intelligence, Beecham’s dialogue as Alys Rivers indicates that she is speaking to a Royal Targaryen in Harrenhal (probably Daemon). She makes a sarcastic remark that she is “cursed” and that her healing abilities have caused some of the little people to call her a witch. While a scene identical or very similar to this one could ultimately make the show, it’s equally possible that Beecham was provided with a non-final sample script to run lines – a common occurrence in television productions. Anyhow, all the details here point to the moment when Daemon arrives in Harrenhal and this important character is introduced.