It’s completely unfair that we have to wait two years for the next season of House of the Dragon. It’s especially unfair considering this season was basically an eight episode long trailer for season three.

At the end of season one, civil war had pretty much began, but for all of this season, the show seemed to be moving in slow motion as we waiting for war to get into its full swing. What we did get was brilliant, but it was tainted by the constant question: Why on earth are we still waiting? Season three of House of the Dragon was a bit like if they made an entire Harry Potter film about the chapters in the book where he goes to Diagon Alley and does all of his shopping for the year.

So, here’s how House of the Dragon ends according to the books, if you don’t wait to wait until season three drops.

Who wins the war?

Via HBO

If you’re reading this article, this is the first question you’ll be asking, and unlike HBO, here you can find your answer straight away. Team black win the war (eventually).

When the next season of House of the Dragon does eventually come, we’ll see Rhaenyra take King’s Landing as she was poised to do in season two’s finale and sit on the Iron Throne. She’ll then do the Westeros equivalent of a Liz Truss, and rule for all of five minutes before getting herself killed by Aegon’s dragon Sunfyre.

Of course, at the Battle of Rook’s Rest halfway through this season, Sunfyre is dead, or at least dying (it’s kept ambiguous, but it would seem in order for his triumphant survival) and munching of Rhaenyra to be as much of a surprise as possible.

But it’s team black that wins the war eventually. All of Alicent’s children and grandchildren are wiped out and baby Aegon – Rhaenyra and Daemon’s son – becomes King Aegon III at the age of 10 (it’s worth noting that because of all the incest, baby Aegon is both Rhaenyra’s son and cousin).

The big survivors of the series will be King Aegon III and Alicent – who lives out the rest of her days in peace, presumably growing her candle collection.

Who dies, and how?

via HBO

Prepare yourself, the list of deaths is long. Here are all the characters and how they die:

Prince Jacaerys – drowned by Triarchy sailors
Ser Criston Cole – cut to pieces by the Riverlords
Prince Aemond – stabbed in the eye by Daemon who jumps from his dragon at him
Daemon – falls from the sky after leaping off Ceraxes to kill Aemond
Helaena – suicide
Prince Joffrey – falls off Syrax
King Aegon II – poisoned by his own council

What happens to the dragons?

Via HBO

Most of the dragons are killed by each other in battle. Those that remain are weaker and malnourished. Each new dragon that hatches is smaller than the last, until the last dragons are no bigger than cats. They disappear completely within a few years – which is why some characters in Game of Thrones, set 180 years later, doubt that they ever even existed.