Alys Rivers might explain the curse of Harrenhal to Daemon in upcoming House of the Dragon episode

House of the Dragon fans are excited to see the new characters in Season 2, especially Alys Rivers, the witch queen of Harrenhal. A leaked 2023 audition tape gives us a peek at what’s coming.

Emily Beecham, famous for her role in Netflix’s 1899, auditioned for Alys Rivers, although the role eventually went to Gayle Rankin. Her scenes with Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen, show what her character might be like in the new season, and how she explains the curse of Harrenhal to Daemon Targaryen. We know about Daemon’s assault on Harrenhal, and these clips give us some insights about what we may see when the event occurs on screen.

Read More: Eddie Redmayne jokingly interviews Gayle Rankin about Alys Rivers

Emily Beecham’s Alys Rivers audition tapes

Credits: AMC

The fansite Redanian Intelligence published two audition videos of Emily Beecham. In these videos, Beecham reads for a character codenamed “AR,” who is unmistakably Alys Rivers. The first video shows Alys acting as a healer at Harrenhal, conversing with Daemon Targaryen after a quarrel with Rhaenyra.

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Though the videos have since been taken down from the website, you can watch them here:

Remember Alys Rivers audition tape. The beach is where Daemon and Rhaenyra have a fight. Alys Knows This. pic.twitter.com/DadvepfpMp

— T-townReject (@townreject) July 10, 2023

She discusses Harrenhal and offers Daemon a sleeping draught, which he accepts. In the second video, Daemon questions Alys about the contents of the sleeping draught, and Alys challenges Daemon’s loyalty to Rhaenyra and his fragile ego.

She also explains the curse of Harrenhal to Daemon during this exchange:

“Daemon: You’re some kind of physician?

Alys: Mhm. This castle’s closest approximation(?). I inherited the duties after the last one fled in the night.

Daemon: Fled, why?

Alys: Never settled in – how are you settling in? I’ve come to know the face of tortured rest well enough. Sleep can be so thin inside these walls.

Daemon: How would you know that?

Alys: This place has been cursed since the first stone was laid. King Harren felled the grove of Yew trees that grew in these lands. They say they are imbued with the spirits of those who lived long before he came – you can hear them – whispers, sometimes.

Daemon: Lil boys’ tale.

Alys: Perhaps. Perhaps not. The very bed you sleep in was made from such a tree; experienced anything interesting?

Daemon: (?) because you’re a woman.

Alys: No, I’m no woman at all – I’m a (?) now. I was cursed and live in human form. (Laughs)”

In George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, Alys Rivers is rumored to use potions and poisons to control men. The audition scenes hint at these traits, showing Alys providing Daemon with herbal remedies that affect him. This suggests that the show might delve into these mysterious aspects of her character. You can read the transcripts of Alys’ dialogues here.

Read More: Gayle Rankin teases a “prophetic” Alys Rivers in House of the Dragon Season 2

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