SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 3, Episode 3, now streaming on HBO Max.

Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) is growing up: In this week’s episode of the third season of “House of the Dragon,” the youngest (and less blonde) son of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) experienced his first assassination attempt.

While sharing a meal with his cousin/guardian Ormund Hightower (James Norton) and uncle Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) in Tumbleton, a group of Baratheons attempted to kill the young prince apparently on the orders of his half-sister, Queen Rhaynera Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy). The attack was unsuccessful, as Gwayne jumped to his nephew’s rescue in time, which only resulted in a couple of deaths and Ormund projectile vomiting at the smell.

But the latest deadly move between the “Blacks” (who currently occupy the Iron Throne through Rhaynera) and the “Greens” (who are divided into multiple factions) will have a profound effect on Daeron heading into the final two episodes of “House of the Dragon” season three.

“I think shock is a big part of that scene overall,” Ainsworth says. Variety. “This is an escalation that I never would have expected. There’s also the idea that the power dynamic between him and Ormund levels out and clashes in some way. The ‘bold’ Jon Roxton has been a man who has followed Ormund’s orders, and this is the first time I’ve tried to stop him, and Ormund orders him to do something. So there’s something about that that’s intensifying this dynamic within this group in the chaos of everything.”

Daeron stops Ser Jon Roxton (Joplin Sibtain) when he tries to dive into the situation and stop Gwayne, before Ormund realizes that Gwayne has discovered the assassination plot before it begins. And that bit of leadership from Daeron, combined with his distaste for Ormund’s handling of the situation, could fuel the way Daeron continues to respond to Ormund’s attempts to make him the new king.

“He’s trying to take more ownership of the situation, but that also overrides the basis of shock, tension and also frustration with Ormund and the way his senses are almost debilitating him,” Ainsworth says. “And he’s vomiting right next to me. And there’s an absurdity to that scene, which Daeron feels simply from the shock itself. Not to mention the dead bodies everywhere.”

It’s Gwayne’s arrival in Tumbleton after leaving Fabien Frankel’s Ser Criston Cole (RIP) that makes Daeron really think about what role he should play in this ongoing war.

“It’s exactly that. The verb ‘push’ seems right because it’s almost a violent thing,” Ainsworth says. “He’s suddenly in chaos, so I don’t think he’s had much time to think about it or process it, which is why there’s so much tension within him and this desperation he has with Gwayne. In the scene he has with Gwayne, he’s almost forced to think about the idea of ​​becoming king, what would that mean? Would that mean space between him and Ormund?”

After weeks of buildup, it becomes clear after this week’s assassination attempt that “House of the Dragon” season 3 is about to feature a confrontation between the blacks and the greens in Tumbleton. Would Daeron, who takes up swordplay in the courtyard after his brush with death, be able to join the fight if the time came? After all, he is known as “Daeron the Daring” in George RR Martin’s “House of the Dragon” source material, “Fire & Blood.”

“I think he would be. Whether he’s ready, I think that’s something he’s questioning himself,” Ainsworth says. “It’s the reason he goes out to train after the murder scene. There’s an element of getting away from the stress of things and focusing on something he enjoys, something he’s good at. But he’s also proving to himself that he can protect himself if something like that happens again. And he knows Ormund and Gwayne are watching him too. So I don’t want to spoil anything in any way.”

Read more from VarietyInterview with Ainsworth below.

How do you see Daeron’s relationship with his uncle Gwayne compared to what we’ve seen between him and Ormund? Gwayne is the first family member we’ve seen Daeron interact with since we met the character.

There is growing tension and high stakes within Tumbleton this season. And this episode feels like the power dynamics are really pushing and irritating each other within Ormund and Daeron’s relationship. And Gwayne is a figure in his life who is more of a brotherly uncle, someone he can talk to, connect with, and doesn’t have to cover up or hide anything in any way. It is very much a breath of fresh and necessary air; trusting away from Ormund’s chaos and manipulation.

I think this version of Daeron was always the center, and then when he was with Ormund, I felt like it was more of a cover-up and a restraint, and he thought more about every choice, everything he says. Whereas with Gwayne it’s much more instinctive. There’s a security she feels with Gwayne that just isn’t there because of how dangerous Ormund can be and this kind of twisted feeling of needing Ormund’s affections as well. Being the perfect squire, being the perfect version of Daeron around him, and there’s a part of that that has made him a more balanced person. He has been away from the bitter politics of King’s Landing, from his brothers and half-sister. It’s all crazy and he’s managed to live away from it. But I think this season presents a completely different perspective because it’s in the middle of the chaos.

Have you seen the fan theories that Ormund not only dyed the fake Daeron’s hair blonde, but he’s actually been dying the real Daeron’s hair a Hightower color for years because Ormund hates the Targaryens?

I have seen that. Did you know? It’s funny because it wouldn’t be too far-fetched for Ormund to think of something like that. Seriously, he’s the kind of person who does that. It’s been great to see all the public reception and theories, and the enthusiasm people have for the character on the show is beyond me.

There’s one element that wasn’t explicitly said when we were on set anyway. So there’s a world where that could be happening, but I don’t know. I think there’s something quite nice about him having his mother’s hair, there’s that connection he feels. He hasn’t seen his mother in years, but he has formed an ideal image of what his mother could be like in hopes of some kind of future for him. So, having the hair be the same, the green colors, and how she cuts her nails, things like that, I think it’s pretty cool to establish that link between Alicent and Daeron.

We’ve only seen Daeron with his dragon Tessarion once because Ormund keeps the dragon locked up. Do you think his relationship with his dragon is different than his brothers who don’t have to keep their dragons locked up?

I think he has a very good relationship with Tessarion. She has been his constant during his time in Old Town, a friend who has always been there for him. Gwayne comes and goes. As we see in this season, he returns after a long time away. But Tessarion is always there and there is a love and deep appreciation that goes both ways. And it’s something that I think keeps him hopeful about his Targaryen side, because we’ve seen the rhetoric that Ormund has against the Targaryens. He thinks that his blood is contaminated and that it is obscenity to have dragons. Still [Daemon’s] The relationship with Tessarion is what I think keeps him balanced and not just a pawn for Ormund to use.

I know that all the cast members decide how they want to approach the character based strictly on the scripts or also on the books by George RR Martin. Are you a “Fire and Blood” reader or not?

I have read from Aegon’s conquest to [the plot of] Season 3, because he wanted to know what happened, because he grew up in Old Town under the Faith of the Seven. I feel like he would have a basic understanding of those concepts and I wanted to be able to incorporate that into the character. And I would have learned about the history. But I also quite like giving this character room to grow.

I know “Daeron the Daring,” where this character is going, and the reputation he has in the books. But I think it’s great to try to explore those reputations within the show and also within the scripts, these morally gray characters and the interpersonal relationships so brilliantly written and well-acted by James Norton and Freddie Fox, and being able to share that with them has been incredible.

This smell thing is a real problem for Ormund. Do you think Daeron has used that to his advantage during his childhood?

Oh, I think it’s definitely something he’s been aware of throughout his childhood, but I don’t think he later did anything about it or manipulated it. I think, if anything, his involvement with Ormund’s senses would be to try to help. I imagined him preparing knobs for him, because those are the things to please him and almost save his own ass too.

There is a scene in this episode that is interrupted after Daeron asks Gwayne if he saw his mother, Alicent, the last time he was in King’s Landing. Was there more to this scene? Did Gwayne have an answer for him?

I don’t know exactly what was said, but I remember talking to Freddie and there’s a moment at the end of that scene, which I don’t think made the cut, but when he comes towards me, he puts his arm around my shoulder and then we’re off. That’s the version of the script, at least anyway. I think there’s something about, even if you go back to the old town, there’s still a sensibility there. And they have a deep respect for each other. I think you have to take into account their dynamic and that it means a lot to Daeron.

This interview has been edited and condensed.