Editor's note: Major spoilers ahead for the season 3 finale of House of the Dragon.
After finally sleeping with Mysaria, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen woke up and chose violence — because she had to.
Two seasons of longing looks, one very memorable kiss, and last week's trip to the royal bedchamber, House of the Dragon's sapphic situationship took an abrupt turn in Sunday's season 3 finale when Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) dismissed Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) as her Mistress of Whispers and had her escorted out of King's Landing.
Rhaenyra and Mysaria's relationship turned romantic in season 2, but the pair finally took things to the bedroom in House of the Dragon season 3.Theo Whiteman/HBO
Not exactly the lesbian U-Haul fans were expecting. But considering Rhaenyra spent the rest of the episode sporting a new chainmail look, declaring herself the subject of an ancient prophecy, and preparing to unleash even more fire and blood across Westeros, there's clearly more going on here.
The finale marks a major shift for Rhaenyra. After learning that Aegon survived the Battle of Rook's Rest and reunited with Sunfyre — who literally rose from the ashes — she abandons plans to negotiate and sends her uncle-husband, Daemon (Matt Smith), to join the fighting at Tumbleton. She also turns against the Faith. She has the High Septon killed after he refuses to anoint her and publicly spills the Song of Ice and Fire tea — a prophecy that has largely remained a closely guarded Targaryen secret.
Rhaenyra Targaryen embraces a darker new look—and an even darker path—in the House of the Dragon season 3 finale.Ollie Upton/HBO
Two seasons after Otto Hightower tried to brand her "Rhaenyra the Cruel," the nickname is starting to hit a little differently.
Related: Is House of the Dragon's Ser Gwayne Hightower gay?
But where does all of that leave Mysaria?
The show never gives viewers one definitive reason for Rhaenyra's decision to send her away. Trust could certainly be an issue. Mysaria knew about Helaena's pregnancy and lied when Rhaenyra directly asked her about it. The sudden reappearance of Aegon and Sunfyre isn't exactly a glowing performance review for the queen's Mistress of Whispers, either.
There may also be some truth to what Alicent warned Mysaria about earlier this season. In episode 5, she told Mysaria that Rhaenyra is capable of going somewhere dark — and that Daemon is the person she chose long ago to accompany her there. And Seven Hells, did Alicent read her to filth. By the finale, Rhaenyra is doing exactly that.
But reducing this to Rhaenyra simply choosing Daemon over Mysaria misses something bigger about her.
Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) remains by Rhaenyra's side as she embraces the war ahead.Theo Whiteman/HBO
Rhaenyra has always chosen destiny over intimacy — even when the show suggests intimacy may be what she actually wants.
As a girl, she dreamed about flying away with Alicent on dragonback. Their relationship eventually became another casualty of the throne, their families, and the expectations placed upon them. With Mysaria, Rhaenyra finally found an intimate relationship that wasn't arranged for her or dictated by politics. And almost as soon as she lets herself have it, duty comes calling again.
For Rhaenyra, though, "choosing" destiny may not even feel like a choice anymore.
She has spent most of her life believing that the Iron Throne is her birthright. Now, armed with the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy, she increasingly believes something even bigger: that ruling isn't simply what she wants or what Viserys promised her. It's what she must do.
And if Daenerys Targaryen taught us anything on Game of Thrones, once you've convinced yourself that the fate of the realm depends on you, sacrificing your own happiness becomes pretty easy to justify.
But could there be something more tender behind Mysaria's exile? Rhaenyra knows what she's about to unleash. She's escalating a war, taking on the Faith, and putting herself at the center of a prophecy she believes could determine the future of Westeros. Sending Mysaria away could be an attempt to protect someone she cares about from what's coming.
Or maybe Rhaenyra simply doesn't want the woman she's just allowed herself to be vulnerable with watching the person she's becoming. (So gay.)
Mysaria doesn't exactly go quietly, either. After slipping away from her guards, she watches Rhaenyra address the people of King's Landing before disappearing into the crowd. Where she goes from here — and what Rhaenyra's decision means for their relationship — remains anyone's guess.
Mysaria doesn't make it very far after Rhaenyra sends her packing, slipping away from her guards before watching the queen address King's Landing.Ollie Upton/HBO
Whether Rhaenyra sent Mysaria away because she no longer trusts her, because she wanted to protect her, or because there simply isn't room for intimacy in the life she's chosen, House of the Dragon isn't giving us an answer yet.
But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Rhaenyra is willing to sacrifice almost anything for the destiny she believes is hers.
Including, apparently, her sapphic situationships.
Stream all three seasons of House of the Dragon on HBO Max, and prepare for more fire, blood, and sapphic drama when the series returns for its fourth and final season in 2028.
