Blood and Cheese Are Key Players in 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 (SPOILERS)

Spoiler alert: This article contains MAJOR spoilers for George R. R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood and Season 2, Episode 1 of House of the Dragon.

When it comes to George R. R. Martin's wildly popular fantasy franchise, fans are bound to witness devastating moments; from the infamous Red Wedding to the Night King killing Viserion in Game of Thrones, its evident heartbreak is inescapable.

As for House of the Dragon, viewers will again bear witness to some of the most heartbreaking scenes in franchise history.

Season 2 starts off intensely, with another murder committed in the Dance of the Dragons. Blood and Cheese, two characters from the novel House of the Dragon is based on, play key roles — but viewers may not understand why right away.

As seen in Season 1, shortly after King Viserys I's death, all hell breaks loose; not only is Aegon II crowned his successor, but Prince Aemond and Vhagar practically kick off the Dance of the Dragons by killing Prince Lucerys and Arrax. Once word spread of his death, the blacks swore vengeance against the Aemon and the green council.

In the end, the person who successfully avenges Luke's death is none other than Prince Daemon Targaryen.

After he tells Rhaenyra that they will get revenge for her son's death, Daemon reaches out to his former lover and spymaster, Mysaria; at his request, she hires two assassins to carry out a grim task. Enter Blood and Cheese, a former sergeant of the City Watch and a ratcatcher familiar with all the hidden passageways of the Red Keep.

In the book, Mysaria orders Blood and Cheese to head to the castle, where they capture Alicent Hightower in her chambers. After restraining Alicent, the pair wait for Helaena and her children to arrive for their nightly visit. Upon arrival, Blood slays Helaena's guardsman while Cheese, in retaliation for Luke's death, asks Helaena which of her sons she wishes they kill.

As expected, Helaena offers her own life, but Blood and Cheese reject her proposal, even threatening to rape and kill all three of her children if she doesn't choose. Eventually, she reluctantly picks Maleor, whom she considers too young to understand what is actually happening; however, Blood beheads the six-year-old Prince Jaehaerys instead.

In the show, however, things are a bit different. Instead of sending Mystra to contract Blood and Cheese to do the work, Daemon seeks out the assassins himself. His task is very clear: kill Prince Aemond and bring his head back for the second half of payment. When asked by one of the two assassins, who aren't given names in the first episode of the season, what to do if they can't find Prince Aemond, Daemon doesn't answer.

The scene unfolds in the first episode of the new season similar to how it does in the book; Helaena and her twins are ambushed late at night, and before she can call for help they ask her which of her twins is the heir to the throne. In a shocking move, the queen points to Prince Jaehaerys, allowing him to be beheaded by the assassins while she runs away clutching her twin daughter, Jaehaera.

Blood and Cheese flee the scene with the child's head, but the kingsguard soon capture one of the two during their escape. How the assassin will handle to situation has yet to be seen, but if the final result is anything like the novel, things are not looking good for him.

Season 2 of House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on HBO and Max.