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With Lucerys and Arrax's untimely deaths caused by Aemond Targaryen, the rogue prince, and Rhaenyra Targaryen's consort, Daemon Targaryen will strike back. By the looks of House of the Dragon season 2 teaser trailer, Rhaenyra is now a wounded mother and Alicent Hightower has accepted that the Greens are cast into a full-scale war against the Blacks. But this war of kin is no ordinary war.
With over a hundred years in power, House Targaryen's dragons will be a fundamental part of the war. The Greens have the biggest of them all - Vhagar - but the question of the second-largest living dragon - Vermithor - remains. Will the Blacks get him to their side, and most importantly, who will claim Vermithor in House of the Dragon season 2?
House Of The Dragon: What Happened to Balerion The Black Dread?
Balerion the Black Dread is a dead dragon per the events of HBO's House of the Dragon, but what killed him?
Who Is Vermithor?
Jaehaerys The Wise's Dragon
Vermithor was once bound to King Jaehaerys the First of His Name. Since the beast is known by another name - the Bronze Fury - he is rightly depicted in the show's canon as a bronze-colored beast with tan wings. The only two tameable dragons who exceeded him in size were Balerion the Black Dread and Vhagar. While the former dies of old age, Aemond Targaryen rides the largest dragon in House of the Dragon. Should the Blacks bind one of their dragonriders to Vermithor, they will gain a tactical, strategic, and even mental advantage over the Greens.
In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10 "The Black Queen," Daemon seeks Vermithor by singing to him in High Valyrian in the deep tunnels of his lair. He is not afraid to put down his torch and face the ferocious beast because he wants to bolster his forces and wage a full-scale war against the Greens. Daemon knows quite a deal about the dragon tally on each side. According to his count, the Greens have three adult dragons, but the Blacks have many more that could and must be claimed. He announces before his wife Rhaenyra and her war council:
Vermithor and Silverwing dwell on the Dragonmont... still riderless.
Vermithor remains riderless since Rhaenyra and Daemon's grandsire, King Jaehaerys I passed away in 103 AC. He remained riderless during Viserys' reign, but a man named Hugh Hammer will mount him in the Dance that breaks out in 129 AC.
What Happens To Vermithor In The Dance Of The Dragons?
Fights In The Battle In The Gullet, The First And The Second Battle Of Tumbleton
Hugh the Hammer, or simply Hugh Hammer, is described as a "Blacksmith's bastard" in lore, and he is due to claim Vermithor in House of the Dragon season 2. Hugh responds to Prince Jacaerys Velaryon's call to claim a riderless dragon to ride into war and ends up mastering Vermithor. While a Lord, namely Gormon Massey of Stonedance, is burned alive, Vermithor accepts Hugh. They ride together until both of them perish in the Dance of the Dragons.
Hugh the Hammer will have the honor of riding beside Prince Jacaerys in the Battle of the Gullet. In lore, Vermithor, (who is nearly a hundred years old) will fly alongside Silverwing, Sheepstealer, Vermax, and Seasmoke and set fire to the Triarchy's fleet consisting of ninety warships commanded by Admiral Sharako Lohar sailing under the banners of the Three Daughters.
After the Fall of the King's Landing, Vermithor makes a lair for himself in the Dragonpit, and Hugh takes him to the First Battle of Tumbleton. However, Hugh and another Dragonseed named Ulf the White (who mounts Silverwing) betray the Blacks and defect to Aegon II's faction. According to Game of Thrones lore, Vermithor, Silverwing, and Prince Daeron's dragon, Tessarion, set Tumbleton on fire. The Hightowers' army and Hugh and Vermithor stay back after the brutal sack. Meanwhile, Aegon II disappears and Aemond and Vhagar die in the Battle Above the Gods Eye. This emboldens Hugh, the rider of the largest dragon (Vermithor), to lay claim to the Iron Throne. He declares himself king.
Hugh is eventually killed by Jon Roxton at the outset of the Second Battle of Tumbleton, rendering Vermithor riderless once again. The dragon burns the knights who attempt to wound him and as he begins to fly away, the much smaller Seasmoke descends from the skies in a surprise attack. The two dragons coil and soon Tessarion joins their fight. Vermithor kills Seasmoke but takes grievous wounds due to which he collapses to the ground. All three dragons die at Tumbleton.
Vermithor Vs. Vhagar
Who Is The Stronger And Bigger Dragon?
Vermithor takes second spot to Aemond's Vhagar, but is an invincible dragon, nonetheless. After Vhagar's death, Vermithor becomes the largest living dragon but dies soon after in the Second Battle of Tumbleton. The Bronze Fury has two riders throughout his lifetime - a wise king and an undeserving man who is pretty much the end of him.
For now, it remains to be seen how well House of the Dragon incorporates Vermithor in season 2.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
House Of The Dragon: Dragonseeds, Explained
Jacaerys Velaryon will likely employ baseborn dragonriders known as Dragonseeds in the civil war that is the basis for HBO's House of the Dragon.
