Why Aemond Targaryen Claimed Vhagar and the Consequences He Faced

Few moments in ‘House of the Dragon’ resonate as deeply as the night young Aemond Targaryen ventured to the shores of Driftmark and formed a bond with the largest living dragon in Westeros. This act was reckless, painful, and utterly transformative for a boy who had always felt overshadowed by his family.

The scene stands out as one of the most debated turning points in the series, not only for the physical cost to Aemond but also for the insights it provided into his character and the impending conflict.

Vhagar was already an ancient and legendary creature long before Aemond encountered her. Originally ridden by Queen Visenya Targaryen during Aegon’s Conquest, she flew alongside Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon Balerion and their sister Rhaenys’s dragon Meraxes.

Her list of riders after Visenya was short and exclusive, including Prince Baelon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon before Aemond entered the scene.

Dragons like Vhagar do not easily accept new riders, especially one who is nearly two hundred years old, has known several previous riders, and has spent long periods flying freely without a master.

Laena Velaryon became Vhagar’s rider after demonstrating her skills as a dragonrider from a young age. She and Vhagar were inseparable for years, including flights across the narrow sea with her husband Daemon Targaryen and his dragon Caraxes. Following Laena’s death in 120 AC, Vhagar was left riderless for the first time in decades, paving the way for what was to come.

After Laena’s funeral on Driftmark, the ten-year-old Prince Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar as his own dragon. This act was no coincidence; on the very night of Laena’s funeral, Aemond plotted to claim her now riderless dragon, which involved commanding Vhagar in High Valyrian, risking his own life in the process, all while avoiding detection by the Velaryons.

Bloodline seemed to play a crucial role here. Aemond’s Valyrian heritage likely contributed to his ability to bond with Vhagar, possibly linked to the blood he shared with Baelon, her previous rider.

However, bravery—or perhaps desperation—was equally significant. Aemond showcased his courage by sneaking away from the castle alone, confronting Vhagar by himself, and persistently issuing High Valyrian commands despite her resistance, standing firm even when she displayed aggression by breathing fire in his direction. Ultimately, Vhagar, aging and unwilling to accept just anyone, chose to bond with Aemond, swayed by his boldness.

The claiming did not come without violence, and the repercussions were immediate. Laena’s daughter, Rhaena Targaryen, had intended to claim Vhagar, and when she and Aemond clashed over the dragon, the confrontation resulted in Aemond losing an eye.

Aemond never seemed to regret the trade. He remarked afterward that losing his eye was a fair price for gaining the most powerful dragon in the known world, a bond that would significantly influence the civil war within House Targaryen.

Fans watching the episode had mixed feelings about how the events unfolded. One recap highlighted that Aemond’s actions toward Laena’s twin daughters while claiming the last connection they had to their mother felt genuinely upsetting rather than triumphant, as ‘House of the Dragon’ had built real sympathy for Rhaena’s loss just before this moment.

Once bonded, Vhagar and Aemond became one of the most feared forces in the war. By 129 AC, Vhagar had grown nearly as large as Balerion during Aegon’s Conquest, making her the largest living dragon of her time. Aemond flew her to Storm’s End to secure Lord Borros Baratheon’s support for King Aegon II.

This journey led to the infamous confrontation over Shipbreaker Bay. Aemond pursued Lucerys Velaryon into the sky on his dragon Arrax during a violent storm, and Vhagar quickly overpowered the smaller dragon, with Arrax’s severed head washing ashore days later alongside Lucerys’s body.

The pairing proved equally devastating on the battlefield. At the Battle of Rook’s Rest, Vhagar and Aemond joined King Aegon and Sunfyre in ambushing the dragon Meleys and her rider, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. Although Meleys might have stood a chance against Vhagar alone, she perished from the combined assault while Vhagar emerged from the fight relatively unscathed.

Some critics argue that the show’s portrayal of Aemond softened what was originally a colder, more calculated character in George R.R. Martin’s source material. One review noted that in the book, Aemond was fully aware of his actions when he chased his nephew into the skies, still burning with resentment over the eye he lost, whereas the show reframed the moment as a prank that spiraled tragically out of control.

Did Vhagar and Aemond deserve their reputation as the most feared pairing in the Dance of the Dragons, or does the show’s gentler interpretation of that infamous night at Storm’s End alter your perception of him?