A Power Play in House of the Dragon, Larys Strong and the Milk of the Poppy?
At a turning point in the sixth episode of House of the Dragon's second season, Larys Strong, the mysterious Master of Whisperers, makes an apparently benign but strategically important decision: he refutes King Aegon Ii Targaryen a dosage of Milk of the Poppy. Though ostensibly a show of concern for the king's welfare, this action exposes a deeper layer of mystery and reveals the nuanced motivations of this sly character.
Recognizing Larys Strong's Goals
Maesters throughout Westeros rely on the strong pain reliever The Milk Of The Poppy, which has a side effect of mind dulling. It momentarily reduces a patient's mental clarity even while it helps with pain. Larys Strong, though, is more focused on King Aegon's physical comfort than only that. He sees how a king's weakened mind affects his decisions.
Larys's wish for Aegon to be back in full mental capacity is not motivated only by kindness. A lucid Aegon is more vulnerable to his influence and manipulation, he knows. Larys's own aspirations would benefit from this control over the king since he feels Aegon's rule presents the best chances for him to flourish. Larys makes sure the king stays sharp and alert so he keeps a fundamental component of power inside the court.
Poppy Milk: A Resurfaced Theme
The usage of Milk Of The Poppy is not novel in the realm of Game of Thrones and its prequel series. Robert Baratheon, a character in Game of Thrones, was given Milk of the Poppy as he passed away from his injuries following boar goring. The sick King Viserys Targaryen in House Of The Dragon mostly depended on the potion to control his ongoing suffering. These cases highlight the importance of the drug and its consequences for users.
Complex Motives of Larys Strong
Larys Strong seems to be devoted to the Greens, but his reasons go much beyond simple allegiance. Unquestionably, he is driven by power, and his behavior over the series points to a readiness to control and take advantage of others in order to forward his objectives. Aegon II's choice to keep the Milk of the Poppy off-target is evidence of his strategic thinking and guile. It highlights his capacity to engage in the game of power by means of knowledge and influence, so overcoming his competitors.
Larys Strong: a Whispers Master
Larys Strong's Master of Whisperers post serves more than just formality. Operating under the cover of darkness, he gathers information, disseminates rumors, and subtly shapes events behind-stage. For those in positions of authority, his capacity to regulate knowledge makes him a great advantage; he uses this capacity to forward his own agenda. He is a master manipulator, and his behavior in relation to Aegon's treatment simply help to support his reputation.
Prospective Effects
The reasons and future activities of Larys Strong remain unknown. Although he seems to be playing the game of power next to the Greens, it's not clear if his allegiance to them is sincere or merely strategic. His choice to keep Aegon II alert implies that he sees promise in the king, but it also begs the issue of whether he will finally be a tool for good or a cause of anarchy and devastation in the realm.
