Long before Lord Varys’ sparrow network, there existed another spy system in King’s Landing, run by the White Worm. They first made their presence known in HOTD Ep 4 by ratting on Daemon and Rhaenyra’s exploits in Flea Bottom.
Ever since then, it’s not been hard to notice the little sparrows, oops, I mean “spiders”, who have been carrying information to and from the Red Keep.
So, do we ever get to know who this industrious White Worm is?
HOTD Ep 9 confirms that Mysaria is the White Worm, who has been running a network of spies. Otto Hightower, who has been liaising with her, meets with her face-to-face to obtain information about Aegon II’s whereabouts.
The show hasn’t been all that discreet in covering Mysaria’s secret identity, leaving plenty of clues to deduce what she’s been up to. How else would one explain all the times Talya has gone whispering to her?
Plus, if you’ve read Fire & Blood, this information is not all that surprising since the book, too, confirms that Mysaria is the White Worm.
Whose side is the White Worm on?
The White Worm with a network of spies and connections is a valuable ally to have.
All this while, it hasn’t been clear who exactly Mysaria sides with. Since she was scorned by Daemon, it would explain why she’s been working with Otto. That, and the fact that she might answer to the highest payer.
In Episode 9, after Larys reveals the Mysaria/White Worm’s existence to Alicent, he also goes to the lengths of burning down her house. Fortunately, she does not die in the fire.
It’s not that easy to outsmart Mysaria and she will be alive for quite a huge part of Dance of the Dragons.
This act of aggression from the Greens has made one thing clear—Mysaria will be more inclined to side with the Blacks and lend them her network of spiders. Larys trying to cut off Mysaria has automatically earned Rhaenyra an ally.
Mysaria will have quite a vital role in the Targaryen civil war, even going on to act as Rhaenrya’s unofficial Mistress of Whispers. One of her most dire schemes (favoring the Blacks) will be Blood and Cheese, to be depicted in HOTD Season 2.
In the same episode, we also see Helaena embroidering a spider onto her clothes. Is this an Easter egg for Varys (who was also known as Spider), Mysaria’s little “spiders,” or another foreshadowing?
Whichever one it may be, it’s always wise to keep your ears peeled for what Heleana has to say next. Maybe she’ll even foretell the White Worm’s fate.
About House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.
Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.
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