Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers in "House of the Dragon" season three.Ollie Upton/HBOAlys Rivers is introduced in "House of the Dragon" season two as a mysterious resident of Harrenhal.In the book, "Fire & Blood," Alys is a mysterious character who's suspected of being a witch.Here's what to know about Alys and her possible future in season three and beyond.Warning: Spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season three, episode five, and for the book "Fire & Blood."Alys Rivers may not be a dragonrider or a soldier, but the self-proclaimed "barn owl cursed to live in human form" is one of the most formidable figures in "House of the Dragon."Portrayed by Gayle Rankin, Alys is introduced in the HBO show's second season as the unofficial maester of Harrenhal, a derelict castle in the Riverlands held by House Strong. Alys' job is to tend to the noble men within its walls (or whatever's left of them).However, despite her low status, Alys is quickly revealed to be more of a puppet master than a simple servant.Once Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) arrives with his dragon to claim Harrenhal, he finds an unlikely ally in Alys. During his time in the castle, Alys gives Daemon potions that seem to induce powerful visions. Using her mysterious influence, she guides the so-called "Rogue Prince" through his doubts, fears, and regrets, culminating in the epiphany that he's not destined to rule. By the end of the season, Daemon has returned to his wife, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), rallied an army in her name, and vowed to help her seize the Iron Throne.Although Daemon and Alys seem to form a bond, she keeps her true agenda obscured until season three."I've done the queen a service. I put 40,000 Rivermen at her call," she tells Daemon in season three's second episode, titled "Queen's Landing.""Tell her I want Harrenhal," Alys continues. "I've lived there all my long life, and I've seen it given from hand to hand. And yet none seem to cherish it. Why should it not come to me?"Daemon scoffs at her request. Alys is a bastard with no riches, title, or noble husband, which puts her nowhere near in contention for Harrenhal, even if the castle is said to be cursed. He brushes Alys off as a mere midwife.Daemon does promise to speak with Rhaenyra about "some other reward," but his dismissal of Alys may someday prove dire — especially if the series follows her storyline in George R. R. Martin's original book, "Fire & Blood."Here's why Alys is a character to watch in "House of the Dragon" as the Targaryen civil war continues to unfold.Alys is said to be a witch, and no one knows how old she isGayle Rankin and Matt Smith as Alys Rivers and Daemon Targaryen in "House of the Dragon" season two.Liam Daniel/HBODaemon's hallucinations at Harrenhal are partly due to the magic of the Old Gods, which is stronger in the presence of Weirwood trees.In the show, Alys seems to manipulate Daemon by channeling this magic. She also seems to have greensight — an ancient ability to see the future through symbolic dreams. (In "Game of Thrones," Jojen Reed is a known greenseer, and some of the Stark children also have green dreams.) She tells Daemon in season two, "You will die in this place," and later, "There are older things in this world than you or I, or living memory. You are not the player, but a piece on the board." She even has intimate knowledge of Daemon's family, including his brother, the late King Viserys.In the book, Alys is not explicitly connected to the Old Gods, but she is widely suspected of having some kind of magic."Fire & Blood" is written like a history book, wherein the characterizations and narratives often contradict each other. In the case of Alys: "A serving wench who dabbled in potions and spells, says Munkun. A woods witch, claims Septon Eustace. A malign enchantress who bathed in the blood of virgins to preserve her youth, Mushroom would have us believe."Alys' parentage is also unclear. Some assume that Lord Lyonel Strong was her father, which would make her the half-sister of Larys and Harwin — but no one knows when she was born.Alys apparently served as a wet nurse for "countless babes born of other women at Harrenhal," including, possibly, Lyonel himself. Every historian agrees that she was at least 40 when the Dance of the Dragons began, though she looked much younger.It's possible that Alys uses dark magic to keep a young body, much like Melisandre in "Game of Thrones."After Daemon leaves Harrenhal, Alys forms a bond with AemondEwan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen in "House of the Dragon" season three.Ollie Upton/HBOIn season three of "House of the Dragon," as in the book, Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) flies on his own dragon to destroy Daemon and reclaim Harrenhal — only to find the castle deserted by his uncle.Instead, Aemond finds the castellan of Harrenhal, Simon Strong, and his adult sons. He kills them all."Thus did the flower of House Strong, an ancient line of noble warriors boasting descent from the First
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