As a seasoned dragon enthusiast and historian hailing from the sun-kissed lands of Old Valyria, I must say that Vermithor, the grand old bronze beast, has certainly seen his fair share of glory days. From soaring through the skies with King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, to basking in the warmth of Dragonstone alongside Silverwing, this dragon’s tale is one for the ages.
In the series “House of the Dragon,” as hinted by its title, there are significantly more dragons than in the original HBO show “Game of Thrones.” While Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), known as “the Mother of Dragons” in Game of Thrones, had three dragons, Rhaegal, Viserion, and Drogon, by that time in the Westerosi timeline, dragons were believed to be nearly extinct. However, the storyline of “House of the Dragon” revolves around the “Dance of the Dragons,” a conflict between the Targaryen family members who ride dragons for control of the Iron Throne, and there are many more dragons in this series. So, let’s discuss Vermithor, one of the biggest and most intimidating dragons in all of Westeros.
Among the oldest and largest dragons in all of the Seven Kingdoms, second only to Vhagar, is the mighty Vermithor. In George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood” and Season 2 of “House of the Dragon,” this dragon plays a crucial role in the family conflict. You may be curious about who currently rides Vermithor on “House of the Dragon,” who previously held the reins, and why this dragon is so integral to the storyline.
Who is Vermithor in House and why is he so important to House of the Dragon?
According to George R.R. Martin’s extensive history, it is Princess Rhaena Targaryen — the daughter of Aenys I Targaryen and Queen Alyssa Velaryon, and sister to Jaehaerys Targaryen — who is said to have brought Vermithor into existence by placing a dragon’s egg in Jaehaerys’ cradle. Similarly, she is believed to have placed an egg in her sister Alysanne’s cradle. As a result, both Princess Alysanne’s dragon Silverwing and Prince Jaehaerys’ dragon Vermithor were born around the same time. Martin writes, “It is said that it was Princess Rhaena who placed a dragon’s egg in Princess Alysanne’s cradle, just as she had for Prince Jaehaerys two years earlier. If these stories are true, then from those eggs emerged Silverwing and Vermithor, whose names would become significant in the annals of time.
Regarding Vermithor’s physical characteristics, he’s portrayed as a colossal bronze dragon, surpassed in size only by Vhagar (still present in “House of the Dragon”) and Balerion, the “Black Dread,” who passed away during King Jaehaerys I’s reign. In the Season 1 finale “The Black Queen,” Vermithor makes his screen debut when Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), Rhaenyra Targaryen’s consort and uncle, visits him in Dragonstone’s depths; although Vermithor growls as Daemon sings to him, it is mentioned in “Fire & Blood” that by the time of the Dance of the Dragons, Vermithor may accept a new rider. The question remains: who was his first rider?
Vermithor did have another rider once
Jaehaerys I Targaryen, at the tender age of fourteen, ascended the throne, renowned for his chivalry with lance and longbow, and mastery over a magnificent steed named Vermithor. His sister Alysanne, only twelve years old, also commanded her own dragon, Silverwing. The valiant bond between their dragons and themselves proved instrumental in conquering numerous challenges. After Jaehaerys successfully dethroned his usurping uncle Maegor, he found himself embroiled in further turmoil with Lord Rogar Baratheon, primarily due to a prior betrothal between Alysanne and Ser Orryn Baratheon, which was secretly superseded by her own union with Jaehaerys.
This is all to illustrate precisely how Jaehaerys wields the power of Vermithor. When Lord Rogar returns to Jaehaerys’ side after the two butt heads, Rogar asks if he could offer hostages to prove his loyalty to the king, at which point King Jaehaerys I showed Lord Rogar the great dragon eating a big pile of meat. “‘He grows larger every day,’ Jaehaerys said as he scratched the great wyrm under his jaw. ‘Keep your nieces and your nephews, my lord. Why would I need hostages? I have your word, that is all that I require.’ But Grand Maester Benifer heard the words he did not speak. ‘Every man and maid and child in the stormlands is my hostage, whilst I ride him, His Grace said without saying,’ wrote Benifer, ‘and Lord Rogar heard him plain.'”
In the grand scheme of things, I found myself witnessing the union of my granddaughter, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, with Lord Corlys Velaryon. As King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne, along with their dragons, oversaw this joyous event, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. But as the days passed, my thoughts turned to my trusted dragon, Vermithor, and what might become of him.
Here’s who finally rides Vermithor during the events of House of the Dragon
In the timeline of Westeros, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen passes away in 103 AC. Subsequently, Vermithor, his dragon, along with other dragons like Silverwing, reside at Dragonmont beneath Dragonstone. It’s here where Rhaenyra and several “dragonseeds” (those with Valyrian blood through illegitimate birth) undertake a perilous quest to discover which of these bastards could potentially ride and fight alongside dragons in support of Rhaenyra’s cause. As “Fire & Blood” notes, Vermithor, along with Seasmoke and Silverwing, are open to new riders due to their previous experiences with human companionship. The book reveals that it is Hugh the Hammer, a blacksmith’s bastard, whom Vermithor selects as his rider.
In the second season episode titled “The Red Sowing” of “House of the Dragon”, we witness a scene where Kieran Bew’s character, Hugh Hammer, confronts Vermithor and manages to survive. Without giving away too much about future events on “House of the Dragon”, it can be said that Hugh and Vermithor have significant interactions in the storyline for some time and will both be crucial figures during the Dance of the Dragons, with ominous times ahead.
“House of the Dragon” is streaming on Max now.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-17 18:30