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House of the Dragonshowrunner, Ryan Condal, promised 5 new dragons in Season 2 (perTHR) and delivered on his word. New beasts besides Caraxes, Meleys, Vhagar, Sunfyre, and Seasmoke were given screen time.House of the Dragon– Season 2 built anticipation for most new dragons by dropping their names back in Season 1.
In all fairness, six new dragons were brought to life inHouse of the Dragon– Season 2, out of which Joffrey’s Tyraxes was barely seen on the screen. The eclectic mix of five new dragons includes old and young, male and female. These new dragons have bigger roles in the storyas it progressesand here’s how they arrived.
Silverwing
Ulf Flies Silverwing Above King’s Landing
The friendly she-dragon Silverwing belongs to House Targaryen, and the Good Queen Alysanne last rode her. Her new rider,the Dragonseed Ulf, can’t hold a candle to Alysanne, but he gets to ride her due to the ongoing war.
As seen inHouse of the Dragon, Silverwing willingly bent her neck to Ulf, and he rode her to King’s Landing to send a message to the Greens. King’s Landing is no longer safe, and Rhaenyra has acquired the strength to fly above the capital anytime. Silverwing is a solid addition to the Blacks legion, even though her rider, Ulf, is crass, rude and doesn’t know how to conduct himself.
Moondancer
Baela Scouts The Skies Above The Crownlands On Moondancer
Daemon mentioned Moondancer in Season 1 while taking stock of the dragons on the Greens and the Blacks' side. He spoke proudly about his daughter, Baela’s ride, Moondancer, and this season, the duo patrolled the skies of the Crownlands and reported to Dragonstone aboutCriston Cole’s movements.
Baela and Moondancer are thorough with their duties, and everyone knows Baela’s patrols pose a huge risk to her life. She is well versed in the ways of dragon-riding and commands her green dragon well.
Stormcloud Is Bonded With Prince Aegon
Stormcloud is not a fighting dragon, yet, but House Targaryen’s hope for the future. This male dragon and his rider, Prince Aegon, are younger inHouse of the Dragonthan in the source material.
In the books, Prince Aegon and Stormcloud, Prince Viserys secure their berths on the Pentoshi cog, the Gay Abandon, to be fostered at Pentos until their mother, Rhaenyra, secures the capital. The Triarchy ambushes them in the Gullet, and Aegon manages to escape with Stormcloud’s assistance, leaving behind his younger brother, Prince Viserys. Prince Aegon delivers the news of the ambush to Dragonstone and Stormcloud dies from a crossbow bolt and multiple arrow wounds. Aegon and Stormcloud are far too vulnerable forHouse of the Dragonto take that direction. Stormcloud is yet to take wing and Aegon has yet to realize what’s happening around him.
Jeyne Arryn is unimpressedwith Rhaenyra sending Stormcloud to the Vale, and she says in the show:
Sheepstealer
Rhaena Discovers Sheepstealer In The Vale
Sheepstealer is aggressive, wild, and contrary to how George R. R. Martin had written his dragons to be, nomadic. Lady Jeyne Arryn tells Rhaena that a wild dragon [Sheepstealer] came ranging for food at the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons.This wild dragondevours sheep in the meadows of the Eyrie, and burns vast swathes, pushing Rhaena to search for him in the season finale. Rhaena has claimed Sheepstealer off the screen and is to take her first flight.
Sheepstealer lairs at the back of the Dragonmont in lore, and hunts no further between the territories of Driftmark and the Wendwater. The idea of Sheepstealer flying to the Vale violates the core of Martin’s description. The author exclaims on hisNot a Blogpage:
My dragons are creatures of the sky. They fly, and can cross mountains and plains, cover hundreds of miles… but they don’t, unless their riders take them there. They are not nomadic. During the heyday of Valyria there were forty dragon-riding families with hundreds of dragons amongst them… but (aside from our Targaryens) all of them stayed close to the Freehold and the Lands of the Long Summer.
Tessarion
Tessarion Takes Wing In The Finale
The crucial montage at the end ofHouse of the Dragon– Season 2 ends with Tessarion’s flight above the skies of the Reach. The cobalt blue she-dragon provides aerial protection to the marching Hightower host. Tessarion’s rider, Prince Daeron of the Greens, isn’t visible to the naked eye, but the show has set up great expectations for his character. PerHouse of the Dragon, Tessarion has just learned to fly and joined the war on behalf of the Greens.
In lore, the Hightowers, under Lord Ormund, face House Beesbury’s massive host on the banks of the Honeywine River in the Reach. Daeron decimates the northern and southern forces atop Tessarion and relives the Hightower host. Lord Ormund Hightower knights him in the aftermath of the Battle of the Honeywine.Prince Daeron is given the title Daeron the Daring, although he credits his dragon for their victory.
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.
