WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 and George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood!Prince Jacaerys Velaryon treats with Lord Cregan Stark in Winterfell.
Despite the fact that Jacaerys and Cregan sign the Pact of Ice and Fire, House Stark won’t be heavily featured in the Targaryen civil war. Rather, Cregan will make a triumphant return for House of the Dragon's series ending. Following Rhaenyra and Aegon II’s deaths, Cregan arrives at King’s Landing to officially end the war and secure the accession of Rhaenyra’s son King Aegon III Targaryen. Cregan then briefly serves as Aegon’s Hand in order to bring justice to the realm’s traitors – particularly Lord Larys Strong. After years of Larys’ manipulations, betrayals, and cold-blooded murders, the brutal Cregan Stark does what many wish they could have done: Beheads Larys with the Valyrian greatsword Ice, and even mercifully chops off his clubfoot.
When House Stark Will Properly House Of The Dragon's Story
House Stark will finally the civil war conflict at the start of House of the Dragon season 2. Following Prince Jacaerys Velaryon’s flight to the Vale to secure the loyalty of House Arryn, Queen Rhaenyra’s heir heads north to Winterfell. Jacaerys will spend time hunting, training, and drinking with Cregan – and, if the rumors can be believed, will have an affair with Cregan’s bastard sister Sara Snow – before the two sign the Pact of Ice and Fire. The alliance states that when Jacaerys sires a daughter, she will be sent to Winterfell at the age of seven and marry Cregan’s heir Rickon Stark.
Following this trip, House Stark remains largely absent from the war, likely returning in House of the Dragon season 4. While the northern Winter Wolves led by Roderick Dustin will be integral to Queen Rhaenyra’s campaigns in the Riverlands and the Reach, Cregan won’t come back into play until the Hour of the Wolf. Keeping his oath to Rhaenyra, Cregan becomes the Hand to King Aegon III Targaryen and executes traitors. However, he only ends up executing two men after the rest the Night’s Watch. After beheading Ser Gyles of the Kingsguard and the foot-obsessed Larys Strong for treacherously poisoning Aegon II, Cregan Stark heads back to Winterfell with his new warrior bride, lady Alysanne Blackwood.
Larys Strong's HOTD Death Will Be More Satisfying Than In The Book
As an important villain in House of the Dragon’s story, the death of Lord Larys Strong is a significant occurrence in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book. However, with the book moving so quickly through the era, Larys’ death es quickly and without a grand scene. Larys Strong is the final man to be executed in the Dance of the Dragons, which will feel like a long time coming after several years of watching him manipulate both sides and outlive major characters. Additionally, actually seeing Ned Stark's unforgiving ancestor Cregan take the greatsword Ice and execute Larys Strong on-screen will be an extremely satisfying moment.
Larys Strong’s death will ultimately be satisfying for ers of both the Greens and the Blacks, as the House of the Dragon character betrayed both sides with equally detrimental consequences. House Stark also remains a widely beloved family, so Larys’ death is even better with a Stark of Winterfell swinging the sword. Considering Ned Stark is using Ice to behead a deserter in his first big Game of Thrones scene, Cregan Stark’s last major scene in House of the Dragon being the execution of Larys Strong is a fitting bookend.