Season 2 of House of the Dragon came with the surprising reveal that Alicent and Criston Cole have been engaged in a physically intimate relationship. This remains relevant even after Criston leaves for war. During a short scene in episode 4, we see Grand Maester Orwylle give Alicent a drink called moon tea. It’s not supposed to be for her, or so it seems, as Alicent tells the Maester she will deliver it to the girl who needs it.Yet when he leaves the room, Alicent takes the beverage and drinks it herself, although not without hesitation.
Let’s back up a little, though; What is moon tea? It’s a beverage used throughout Westeros to both prevent and abort pregnancies, made by mixing together tansy, pennyroyal and a variety of other herbs. The fact that Alicent drank this indicates that she was pregnant, or trying to avoid becoming pregnant, with Criston’s child.
We have seen moon tea used before in House of the Dragon; Alicent gave moon tea to Dyana after Aegon assaults her, so she’s definitely aware of its effects. Whether she is just trying to prevent a baby or abort one is up for speculation, but the fact that she holds her stomach while taking the drink seems to suggest she might already be pregnant.
Alicent drinking the moon tea shows that she’s avoiding shame that would come with her having a child out of wedlock, but it also provides an interesting parallel with Rhaenyra. The first time we saw moon tea get used in House of the Dragon was actually by Rhaenyra, given on the order of King Viserys. Alicent learns of this, and takes it to mean that Rhaenyra lied about not being in a relationship with Daemon Targaryen. She’s not entirely wrong; Rhaenyra took the tea after having an affair with Criston himself.
The fact that Alicent looks down upon Rhaenyra for drinking the moon tea, only to do the same herself many years later, exposes her hypocrisy. As Rhaenyra said in the first season, Alicent’s righteousness is a cover, one that she wishes was true but isn’t. Alicent herself is likely aware of the irony of the situation, which won’t do well for her growing self-loathing over her relationship with Criston.
Let’s back up a little, though; What is moon tea? It’s a beverage used throughout Westeros to both prevent and abort pregnancies, made by mixing together tansy, pennyroyal and a variety of other herbs. The fact that Alicent drank this indicates that she was pregnant, or trying to avoid becoming pregnant, with Criston’s child.
We have seen moon tea used before in House of the Dragon; Alicent gave moon tea to Dyana after Aegon assaults her, so she’s definitely aware of its effects. Whether she is just trying to prevent a baby or abort one is up for speculation, but the fact that she holds her stomach while taking the drink seems to suggest she might already be pregnant.
Alicent drinking the moon tea shows that she’s avoiding shame that would come with her having a child out of wedlock, but it also provides an interesting parallel with Rhaenyra. The first time we saw moon tea get used in House of the Dragon was actually by Rhaenyra, given on the order of King Viserys. Alicent learns of this, and takes it to mean that Rhaenyra lied about not being in a relationship with Daemon Targaryen. She’s not entirely wrong; Rhaenyra took the tea after having an affair with Criston himself.
The fact that Alicent looks down upon Rhaenyra for drinking the moon tea, only to do the same herself many years later, exposes her hypocrisy. As Rhaenyra said in the first season, Alicent’s righteousness is a cover, one that she wishes was true but isn’t. Alicent herself is likely aware of the irony of the situation, which won’t do well for her growing self-loathing over her relationship with Criston.