House of the Dragon: How important the bronze dragon Vermithor will be for the second season

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In the final episode of the first season, “House of the Dragon,” Daemon Targaryen seeks out and sings a song for a giant dragon, the former mount of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the man who appointed Viserys I Targaryen as his successor.

The bronze dragon Vermithor has tawny wings and is therefore called “The Bronze Fury”. During the “Dance of Dragons” he is an old and powerful dragon that melts stone and steel with his flames. Only Aemond Targaryen’s dragon Vhagar is larger and older than Vermithor. The dragon will play a decisive role in the war between the Greens and the Blacks.

Vermithor, the dragon of Jaehaerys I Targaryen

In the year 34 after Aegon the Conqueror, Princess Rhaena Targaryen is said to have placed a dragon egg in the cradle of her brother Jaehaerys I. From this egg hatched the dragon Vermithor.

After the death of Aegon I Targaryen, Jaehaerys’ father was named the new King of the Seven Kingdoms. However, his reign did not last long. After five years, King Aenys I Targaryen died.

Shortly thereafter, Aenys’ cousin Maegor I Targaryen crowned himself the new king of Westeros, thereby overriding the claim to the throne of Jaehaerys’ eldest brother Aegon.

He raised an army and went to war against Maegor I. Aegon was killed in the Battle of the Gods’ Eye. Maegor then declared Jaehaerys I and his sister Alysanne to be the wards of his mother Visenya. He sent them and their mother to Dragonstone, where they lived as prisoners.

When Visenya died, the family fled the island and found refuge in Storm’s End, along with the dragons Vermithor and Silverwing. After Maegor I’s death, Jaehaerys I flew to King’s Landing to ascend the Iron Throne. With his mighty mount Vermithor, the king awed the people.

After the death of King Jaehaerys I, Vermithor was not ridden for years. The animal therefore retreated to a smoky cave in the Dragon Mountains.

That’s why Daemon sings for the dragon

With the coronation of Aegon II Targaryen as King of the Seven Kingdoms, the War of Succession, the “Dance of the Dragons”, begins between Aegon II’s supporters, the Greens and allies of the rightful heir to the throne, Rhaenyra Targaryen.

To deal with the approaching conflict, Rhaenyra’s husband Daemon sees the Blacks’ strength in dragons. The Greens only have four, whereas the Blacks could have 13 fire-breathing lizards. Some of the animals are already in the Blacks’ possession and others still need to be acquired.

One of the free dragons who does not yet belong to either side is the Bronze Fury Vermithor. In order to win him over, the Prince Consort of Rhaenyra sets out to visit the animal. Since dragons are not tame pets, he must exercise particular caution.

The dragon has not been ridden by a human for over 30 years and has lived in secret since the death of Jaehaerys I. With its song, which Daemon sings in High Valyrian to calm the beast, it may be preparing Vermithor for its new destiny. One of the words sung sounds like the Valyrian word “arlie”, which means “new”.

It is not entirely clear how Daemon knows the song. He could have heard it when his grandfather Jaehaerys I sang it for his mount, or his research in Pentos led him to these verses. The only thing that is certain is that Vermithor will fight for the Blacks.

House of the Dragon Season 2: Who rides Vermithor in “Dance of the Dragons”?

With the dragons on their side, the blacks have a significant advantage over the greens. But without dragon riders, the animals are of little use to them. Therefore, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon decides to go in search of new dragon riders.

The Velaryon Prince calls on all dragonseeds – bastard children of the Targaryens – to come forward to him. He promises land, riches and knighthood to anyone who succeeds in taming one of the six free dragons.

Many candidates fail and are burned by the animals’ flames. Hugo Hammer, the bastard son of a weaponsmith, finally succeeded in winning the dragon Vermithor over.

Vermithor and his new rider take part in the Battle of the Gurgel, among other things. During the betrayal of Stumbling Town, Hugo uses his mount to cover Stumbling Town in flames and thus betray the Blacks.

During the Second Battle of Stumbling Town, Vermithor flies without his rider. He is attacked by Addam Velaryon and his dragon Seasmoke. Vermithor is barely above the ground when Seasmoke falls on him and the beast crushes him into the mud, screaming.

Actually, Seasmoke previously fought with the riderless dragon Tessarion of the deceased Prince Daeron Targaryen. She also interferes in the fight between Seasmoke and Vermithor.

Vermithor manages to kill Seasmoke, but is injured so badly that his wings can no longer support him. He falls and dies.

However, this tragedy will only occur in the coming seasons of “House of the Dragon”. What Daemon is already planning for the animal is unknown. In the book “Fire and Blood” by George RR Martin, no encounter between the Prince Consort and Vermithor is mentioned.

You can watch the first season of “House of the Dragon” on stream at Wow. Season 2 of HotD starts there on June 16, 2024.