Quick Links
- Prelude To Battle
- The Battle Above The Gods Eye
- The Similarities Between Aemond and Daemon Targaryen
In George R.R. Martin’s world of A Song of Ice and Fire, the Dance of the Dragons is the civil war that erupts after King Viserys I Targaryen’s death. Stirred by his kin, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her younger half-brother, Aegon II, rally the Kingdoms behind their claim to the throne. The claimants have different mothers, but share the same father. As seen in House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra is Viserys’ firstborn daughter and decreed heir, while Aegon II is his firstborn by Alicent Hightower.
The Dance of the Dragons deepens regional divisions, and consists of a series of aerial, land, and naval battles fought across the realm. The Battle Above the Gods Eye is one such fight that inflicts a devastating toll on both sides. Here is the prelude to the said battle, and its climax.
Prelude To Battle
Once King’s Landing falls to the Blacks, Queen Rhaenyra dispatches Daemon, Caraxes, and Nettles (owner of the wild dragon Sheepstealer) to the Trident to stop Aemond’s campaign of terror in the Riverlands. The Dragonriders, Daemon, and Nettles operate from Maidenpool, the House Mooton seat in the Riverlands. They bond during their search for Aemond and Vhagar along the Trident.
Court jester Mushroom says Daemon takes a liking to his new Dragonseed companion, Nettles, and that the duo become lovers. Archmaester Gyldayn refutes this claim on the basis of Maester Norren’s Chronicles of Maidenpool. According to Norren, “the prince and his bastard girl” sleep in rooms next to each other, and Daemon becomes Nettles’ foster father at Maidenpool. While all four Dragonseeds previously fought in the Battle of the Gullet and added to the strength of Daemon’s army during the Fall of King’s Landing, two defected during the First Tumbleton.
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Dragonseeds |
Riderless Dragons They Claim |
|---|---|
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Ulf White |
Silverwing |
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Hugh Hammer |
Vermithor |
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Addam of Hull |
Seasmoke |
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Nettles |
Sheepstealer |
The Blacks’ Dragonseeds, Ulf White (Silverwing), and Hugh Hammer (Vermithor) help the Greens in sacking Tumbleton. This causes uproar and chaos at Rhaenyra’s court. As a result, Rhaenyra grows mistrustful of the remaining Dragonseeds. Surrounded by the proponent of propaganda, Rhaenyra’s unofficial Mistress of Whisperers, Mysaria, pours honey in her ear. She feeds her lies about the Dragonseed, Nettles’ misconduct at Maidenpool, and brings to her attention the girl’s alleged affair with Daemon.
Rhaenyra writes to Lord Manfryd Mooton, ordering Nettles’ execution, and asks Daemon to report to King’s Landing. Fearing Daemon’s wrath, Manfred disobeys the Queen’s command and brings the matter before his prince. Daemon arranges Nettles’ escape atop Sheepstealer. Meanwhile, Aemond continues terrorizing Stonyhead, the Mountains of the Moon, and Sweetwillow. Daemon departs for Harrenhal the same day Nettles escapes on Sheepstealer.
The Battle Above The Gods Eye
Prince Daemon Challenges Aemond To a Duel
Prince Daemon’s hunt for Aemond sets into motion one of the biggest dragon battles in the Dance of the Dragons, which ends in the deaths of all four combatants. It lies at the end of Aemond’s terror campaign in the Riverlands. As Daemon awaits Aemond at Harrenhal, the latter arrives a fortnight later with his pregnant paramour, Alys Rivers. Aemond kisses her goodbye, and exchanges a few words with Uncle Daemon. Following this, the uncle-nephew duo mount their dragons to signal the start of an epic aerial dragon duel at dusk.
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The Battle Above the Gods Eye |
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|---|---|
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Timeline |
130 AC |
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Preceded By |
Fall of Dragonstone |
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Succeeded By |
Storming of the Dragonpit |
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Combatants |
Aemond Targaryen vs. Daemon Targaryen |
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Dragons |
Aemond’s Vhagar and Daemon’s Caraxes |
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Location |
The Gods Eye Lake with Harrenhal on the north shore |
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Casualties |
All four combatants |
Alys watches Battle Above the Gods Eye from the ominous Kingspyre Tower of Harrenhal. Daemon and Caraxes hold their own against the gigantic Aemond and Vhagar. Their dragonfire lights the skies of Gods Eye. Caraxes attacks Vhagar’s neck, while the latter goes for his belly. The dragons duel between themselves, and Daemon jumps from his dragon saddle onto Vhagar and shoves his Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister, into Aemond’s empty eye socket. The ensuing fall kills all four combatants.
The Similarities Between Aemond and Daemon Targaryen
House of the Dragon has brilliantly set up Princes Daemon and Aemond as mirror characters, and much has been made in the fandom about their similarities. From sporting similar hairstyles to the zeal to go far in gaining knowledge, and their mutual love of High Valyrian; it wouldn’t be wrong to call Aemond a younger iteration of Daemon. Furthermore, Daemon and Aemond are the realm’s second sons and stand to inherit nothing. Yet, they are willing to go far for the people they love.
As the Dance kicks off, Daemon and Aemond look to treaty with various lords of the realm. Aemond flies off to Storm’s End, while Daemon seeks an audience with Lord Tully. They believe their cause is righteous. Aemond is impressed with Daemon, to the point, and considers him a challenge. Aemond leaves a subtle clue about the Battle Above the Gods Eye in the Official Green Trailer as he tells Criston Cole:
My uncle is a challenge, I welcome, if he dares face me.
Aemond and Daemon’s mutual kill is a tragic chapter in the Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 at 9/8c on HBO and Max.
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