House of the Dragon theory: Helaena shares another chilling prophecy in just seven words

*WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6.*

By now, House of the Dragon fans are well aware that any cryptic words offered up by Princess Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) are usually a window to the future. In just seven words, the character seems to predict another tragic outcome further down the line. 

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 sees further heartbreak and regret for Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), who is clearly reconsidering the role she has played in the Dance of the Dragons so far. The latest instalment of the HBO show sees Alicent grow fearful after she fails to hear from her father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), despite sending him many letters. 

Moreover, she clearly feels tremendous guilt for the last words she said to her eldest son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), telling him “I’m sorry” as he barely clings to life after defiantly heading into battle. In a bid to do something right after it seems everything else has gone wrong, Alicent visits her daughter Helaena and tells her they will go to the temple to light candles for Aegon and “all the other lost souls”.

However, during this scene, Helaena appears to deliver another ominous prophecy to her mother, who remains totally oblivious to her gift of foresight. When Alicent enters her daughter’s room, Helaena is seen closely examining her collection of what look to be crickets, which she is keeping in small wooden cages. 

Staring at one, she simply remarks: “This one’s stopped singing… Isn’t that strange?”

By now, judging by Helaena's history of delivering cryptic prophecies, we can probably surmise that what she is saying has a double meaning. 

Express.co.uk shares two possible theories on what her latest “prophecy” may be about. 

Was Helaena talking about Ser Steffon Darklyn’s fiery end?

In a bid to tame more dragons and bring them onside to help them win the war, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) decides to call upon those of noble blood. 

According to Game of Thrones lore, dragonseeds of royal descent are sometimes able to become dragonriders. 

Therefore, Rhaenyra summons Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan) and asks if he is willing to be the first non-Royal to attempt to bond with a dragon. 

The dutiful knight agrees, and we soon cut to a scene of him standing in front of Seasmoke, as the dragon-tamers around him sing in Valyrian.

Just when it seems to be going well for Ser Steffon, things suddenly take a violent turn, with Seasmoke changing his mind and burning the knight and other tamers near him to a crisp.

Could Helaena be referring to this “stopping of singing” - or is she looking forward to something even more sinister?

Or was Helaena talking about something closer to home?

While Helaena may have been making reference to the literal singing we hear in the episode, it seems much more likely that the outcome of her prophecy is yet to reveal itself.

Whether it be her fear of “rats” in the castle or her warning of the “beast beneath the boards”, Helaena always seems to prophesize about events closer to home. 

Therefore, it may be that it is a character closer to her family who “stops singing”. Or - as you never know with prophecy - perhaps it is a warning of a different kind. Has anyone heard from Otto Hightower recently? 

I suppose we’ll just have to wait until next week to find out what Helaena’s chilling words might really mean. 

House of the Dragon season 2 is set to air in the UK on Mondays at 2am BST (British Summer Time) on Sky Atlantic and NOW. The same episode will also be broadcast again on Monday at 9pm.