Highlights
- Aegon the Conqueror's dream of the end of the world drove him to unite the Seven Kingdoms and invade Westeros.
- The Targaryens' ability to have prophetic dreams and visions sets them apart and plays a significant role in their story.
- Daenerys' visions in the House of the Undying foreshadow her destructive actions in King's Landing and the power of her dragons.
While invaders set out on their conquests to steal wealth and expand empires, the first Targaryen king of Westeros, and the one to unite six of the Seven Kingdoms into a single political entity, Aegon I was driven to action by something more. House of the Dragon lays down that Aegon turned to Westeros because he foresaw the end of the world of living:
Our histories... they tell us that Aegon looked across the Blackwater from Dragonstone and saw a rich land ripe for the capture. But ambition alone is not what drove him to conquest; it was a dream.
Viserys I relayed Aegon's dream to his decreed heir, Rhaenyra, and it remains a closely guarded secret that is only passed from king to heir in Game of Thrones lore. Aegon called his dream 'The Song of Ice and Fire,' but he wasn't the only Targaryen who foresaw events. Long before him, there existed another Targaryen who had a prophetic dream about the Doom of Valyria, and members of the House owe their lives to her. The Targaryens, besides their distinct features, dragon-riding ability, inclination for madness, and nature of marital relationships are also famous for their prophetic dreams, and visions. They are complex characters, fascinating enough to warrant the first Game of Thrones prequel - House of the Dragon at HBO.
Daenys the Dreamer's Dream
Twelve years before the Doom of Valyria, the Valyrian dragonlord, Aenar Targaryen's maiden daughter, Daenys foresaw the end of the Valyrian Freehold. Aenar paid heed to her, sold his holdings and belongings, and relocated to the island of Dragonstone with his family, slaves, and dragons. He claimed the magnificent castle of Dragonstone and began a new life on the island. Aenar is the forefather of the Targaryens of Dragonstone and the ancestor of Aegon the Conqueror. The Targaryens were one of the forty noble families of the mighty Valyrian Freehold but certainly not the most powerful. But because Daenys foretold the cataclysm and Aenar acted upon it, they were able to survive. Game of Thrones lore also says that many saw Aenar's self-imposed exile as an act of cowardice.
Aegon's Dream
In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 1 "The Heirs of the Dragon," Viserys states that Aegon's dream, i.e., the end of the living world, is to "...begin with a terrible winter, gusting out of the distant north..." This dream pushed Aegon to invade and conquer the Seven Kingdoms. As explained by Viserys I in House of the Dragon, the blood of the dragon, i.e., a Targaryen king or queen on the Iron Throne would hold the realm strong in the face of this mysterious, life-threatening invasion from the North.
Aegon saw absolute darkness riding on those winds. And whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living.
Viserys I's words are a callback to Bran Stark's words from Game of Thrones. At the war council meeting before the Battle of Winterfell, Bran was asked what the Night King wanted from him, and he said:
He wants to erase this world. And I am its memory.
The Night King and his lieutenants - the White Walkers do bring the storm in Game of Thrones and the Targaryen Queen, Daenerys arrives in the North with her armies and dragons to fight alongside another Targaryen - Aegon (Jon Snow). In the last phase of the battle, Arya Stark kills the Night King with the Valyrian steel dagger and preserves the world of the living. That said, if it wasn't for the countless sacrifices that Daenerys made starting Game of Thrones season 7, the North, with their poor defense and petty squabbles would have been overridden by the Army of the Dead.
Daenerys' Foresees The Destruction She Brings Upon King's Landing
In Game of Thrones season 2, episode 10 "Valar Morghulis," Daenerys (who's equipping herself to invade Westeros and take back the Iron Throne) experiences a series of visions in the House of the Undying in Qarth. In search of her dragons, she sees visions of the potential future events in Game of Thrones. She walks into an ashy throne room that looks charred. Years later, Daenerys in the final chapter of her story, wreaks havoc on the Red Keep and the city of King's Landing, therefore the first vision comes true. In a second, she heads out beyond the Wall, walks into a tent, and meets her dead husband, the Khal, and son, Rhaego. She finds the courage to walk out of Drogo's tent and enters another room where her three dragons are put in chains and the warlock, Pyat Pree chains her as well. It's where she learns to muster enough strength to command "Dracarys" and her children burn Pyat Pree and break their chains.
Dragon Dreams
Certain Targaryens also possess a premonition-like dream ability, or as they are known, Dragon Dreams. Such dreams mostly involve dragons, but that's not always the case. Apart from Daenys, Aegon, Prince Daeron Targaryen (known in Game of Thrones lore as Daeron the Drunken) dreamt about a great red dragon falling on Ser Duncan the Tall, and him walking off alive. In the source material, Daenerys had dragon dreams before hatching three dragons. Additionally, Helaena Targaryen's premonitions, foresight, and riddles in House of the Dragon, or Viserys I's dream that his son would be born wearing Aegon's iron crown amid the sound of "thundering hooves, splintering shields, and ringing swords" are more examples of Targaryen dreams.