Rhea Royce

Lady Rhea Royce was a member of House Royce and heir to Runestone during the first half of the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen. She was the estranged wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen.
==Biography==
===Background===
Lady Rhea is the heir of Lord Yorbert Roycehttps://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/House-Of-The-Dragon-It-Starts-On-The-Page.pdf and wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen, heir presumptive of King Viserys I Targaryen. However, Daemon strongly dislikes his wife, calling her his "bronze bitch" after the ancestral bronze armor of House Royce, and they have become estranged from one another by the ninth year of Viserys's reign, with Rhea remaining at Runestone, while Daemon serves as commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.
Rhea's marriage to Daemon was arranged by his own sister-in-law, Queen Aemma Arryn, perhaps due to the Royces being trusted vassals of the Arryns.
===House of the Dragon: Season 1===
Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, notes in a Small Council meeting that Daemon has not been seen at Runestone for quite some time. Daemon insults his wife to the rest of the Small Council, mocking her as his "bronze bitch" who he expects is happier for his absence. Otto states that Rhea is an honorable lady of the Vale, though Daemon continues to insult her, offering her to Otto, as he has recently lost his wife, which deeply offends him. Later, Viserys commands Daemon to return to Runestone to be with his wife at once, though he takes Mysaria with him when he departs on Caraxes.
Instead of returning to Runestone, Daemon occupies Dragonstone for half a year, eventually writing to the Small Council that he is to take his lover, Mysaria, as his second wife in the custom of Old Valyria, and steals a dragon egg meant for Prince Baelon, for the child he is supposedly going to have with her. This notion comes to the end after Otto, unexpectedly aided by Princess Rhaenyra, arrive at Dragonstone to retrieve the egg. During the confrontation, Rhaenyra notes to Daemon that he already has a wife, which Daemon acknowledges, saying that Rhea was not of his choosing.
When Daemon returns to King's Landing from the War for the Stepstones, he and Rhaenyra talk of how he is married to a woman not of his choosing. Daemon notes how the couple is childless, and mockingly suggests that no child would be able to grow in such "hostile environs." Later, after rumors reach the king of Daemon's affair with Rhaenyra, Daemon asks to marry his own niece. When Viserys points out that Daemon is already married, he asks to take another wife, much like the Conqueror did, but an infuriated Viserys tells Daemon that he is merely a "plague," and commands him to go back to Runestone.
Rhea rides out into the fields of the Vale to hunt for deer, coming across her cousin Gerold Royce. He asks if she would like company for her hunt but she insists on going alone. While riding and searching for her quarry, she encounters a hooded figure blocking her passage back to Runestone, whom she quickly recognizes as her husband Daemon. She inquires on his presence in the Vale, sarcastically wondering if he is there to consummate their marriage, referring to his insult that the Vale's sheep are prettier than its women. She then reasons that perhaps Viserys has had enough of him in King's Landing and sent him there, mocking his right as heir being revoked in favor of Rhaenyra. Daemon remains silent and tries to approach her horse, frightening it and making Rhea wary.
Rhea asks if he will now kill Rhaenyra to get what he wants, but realizes that he means to kill her instead. She reaches for her bow, but her sudden actions and Daemon raising his hand cause her horse to fall onto its back, throwing her to the ground and breaking her neck. As her horse gets up and walks away, Daemon approaches Rhea and steps on her arm; when she has no reaction, he realizes she is now paralyzed. As Daemon walks away, she insults him for being unable to finish her off. In response, he picks up a large rock and approaches his helpless wife, before bludgeoning her to death. Rhea's passing, reported as her falling off her horse and breaking her skull and neck, came as a shock to many, as she was known for her skills as a rider and hunter.
At the feast in celebration of Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon's betrothal, Gerold confronts Daemon for his cousin's death, which Daemon disparagingly calls a "tragic accident." Gerold accuses the prince of being involved in her death, but Daemon instead talks about his inheritance following Rhea's death, as he is meant to inherit all of Runestone since they have no children. Daemon smugly mentions that following Rhaenyra's wedding, he will fly back to the Vale and petition Lady Jeyne Arryn to take what is his, angering Gerold.
==Quotes==
===Spoken about Rhea===
==Family==
==In the books==
In Fire & Blood, Rhea and Daemon's marriage was arranged by Queen Alysanne Targaryen when she was still heir to Runestone. It was a fine political match, but Daemon was bored in the Vale, and developed a deep dislike for his wife. She became ruling Lady of Runestone some time after the Great Council of 101 AC was held, and her marriage with Daemon proved to be barren. Upon the accession of King Viserys, Daemon petitioned to set aside (namely to annul) his marriage to Rhea. This was denied by the king, though he did permit Daemon to return to King's Landing and sit on the Small Council.
According to Jeyne Arryn, Daemon treated Rhea most cruelly.
In 115 AC, while hawking in the Vale, Rhea fell from her horse and cracked her skull. She died nine days later. In contrast to the show, Daemon is not explicitly tied back to her death, since at that time he was at Bloodstone, still occupied with the War for the Stepstones. Daemon flew at once for the Vale, hoping to lay claim to her lands, castles, and incomes, but failed; Runestone passed instead to Rhea's nephew. Not only was Daemon's claim dismissed, but Jeyne Arryn also warned him that his presence in the Vale was unwelcome.
==Appearances==
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==References==
===Notes===
==External links==
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Category:Individuals appearing in House of the Dragon
Category:Ladies
Rhea Royce
Rhea Royce
Category:Valemen
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