With both his sons dead, old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen convenes a Great Council to choose an heir, and the Westerosi lords select his eldest grandson, Prince Viserys, over Princess Rhaenys, the eldest grandchild. Nine years later, King Viserys hosts a tournament to celebrate Queen Aemma Arryn's pregnancy, confident she carries his long-awaited male heir, and Rhaenyra welcomes her uncle Daemon back to the Red Keep. The Small Council disregards Lord Corlys Velaryon's warning that the Triarchy, an alliance of Essos's Free Cities, threatens Westerosi shipping lanes, while the Hand, Ser Otto Hightower, criticizes Daemon's brutality as City Watch commander.
At the tournament, the young common-born knight Ser Criston Cole outcompetes Daemon. Aemma dies in childbirth after Viserys authorizes a C-section, and their newborn son, Baelon, dies soon after. Viserys refuses the council's pleas to appoint a new heir until Otto reveals that Daemon mockingly styled Baelon "The Heir for a Day". Outraged, Viserys banishes Daemon from King's Landing and names his only living child, Princess Rhaenyra, heir to the Iron Throne, telling her of Aegon the Conqueror's dream that inspired him to unify Westeros.