Why Aemond Targaryen Was Dragonless Before Claiming Vhagar

Fans diving into ‘House of the Dragon‘ often question why Aemond Targaryen spent his formative years without a dragon while his siblings and cousins soared across Westeros. The answer lies in the show’s inaugural season, shedding light on how Aemond ultimately became one of the most feared dragon riders in the entire series.

Prince Aemond, the second son of King Viserys and Alicent Hightower, was the only Targaryen child of his generation without a bonded dragon for a significant part of the story. This detail evolved into one of the most pivotal plot threads, reshaping the conflict that defines ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2.

Every Targaryen child is expected to claim a dragon of their own, but Aemond’s egg failed to hatch, leaving him without a mount while his brother Aegon had Sunfyre and his half-siblings Jacaerys and Lucerys had Vermax and Arrax. This absence made Aemond feel like an outsider within his own family, mocked for being the lone dragonless prince during a time when dragon ownership was directly linked to status and legitimacy in King’s Landing.

This lack of a dragon became a source of humiliation, with Aemond facing bullying from Aegon and his uncles Jacaerys and Lucerys because of it. The sting of exclusion shaped his character long before he ever took to the skies, transforming him into a quieter, more calculating figure compared to his more impulsive older brother.

The turning point arrived after the death of Laena Velaryon, whose dragon Vhagar was suddenly left without a rider. Aemond seized the chance, sneaking off to claim the massive and formidable Vhagar for himself, a moment that instantly elevated him from the family’s forgotten son to the rider of the largest dragon still alive in Westeros.

Claiming a fully grown, battle-hardened dragon like Vhagar came at a significant cost. Initially, Vhagar resisted Aemond’s attempts to mount her, nearly incinerating him before he successfully gained her control using High Valyrian commands.

The repercussions of that bold move were severe and lasting. Lucerys attacked Aemond with a knife in retaliation for taunting him, resulting in Aemond losing an eye during the struggle—an injury that became his defining physical trait throughout the series.

Aemond later reflected on this trade with unsettling calm, framing the loss of his eye as a fair exchange for gaining Vhagar. This single transaction, an eye for a dragon, initiated a chain of events that would eventually lead to the outright war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

By the time ‘House of the Dragon’ enters its second season, Aemond and Vhagar have emerged as arguably the most lethal duo on either side of the conflict. Vhagar was one of the three original dragons that assisted the Targaryens in conquering Westeros centuries ago and has survived numerous battles since, making her both the oldest and largest dragon still alive.

This combination of size, experience, and Aemond’s own skill as a rider has rendered the pair nearly unbeatable in direct confrontations. Vhagar has already killed rival dragons and severely injured others during the war, maintaining an undefeated record thus far in the Dance of the Dragons as depicted on the show.

Aemond’s command of Vhagar was prominently displayed during the Battle at Rook’s Rest, where the two waited until enemy dragons Sunfyre and Meleys were already injured before joining the fray, ultimately aiding in the defeat of Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys. This moment solidified Aemond as the Greens’ most valuable asset, transforming him from the dragonless child into a formidable force capable of destruction.

However, the show has hinted that Vhagar and Aemond are not invincible. In season 2 episode 7, Aemond had Vhagar turn away from a potential confrontation with multiple rival dragons, showcasing a rare moment of caution from a character usually defined by his aggressive nature.

Since ‘House of the Dragon’ is based on George R.R. Martin’s ‘Fire and Blood,’ there is already a roadmap for Aemond’s journey with Vhagar. In the source material, Aemond and Vhagar meet their demise during the Battle Above the God’s Eye, a climactic showdown against Daemon Targaryen and his dragon Caraxes.

The show has already hinted at this direction, including a vision shared between Aemond and his twin sister Helaena, warning that he will be consumed by the God’s Eye. Whether the show adheres to the book’s conclusion or makes adjustments, the emotional core remains the same: a prince who spent his early life without a dragon ultimately defined, and possibly destroyed, by the one he fought so hard to claim.

For now, Aemond’s mastery of Vhagar stands as the Greens’ greatest advantage in the ongoing war, even as the Blacks continue to recruit new dragon riders. What began as the tale of the one Targaryen child left behind has evolved into one of the show’s most captivating character arcs, raising the question of whether Aemond’s insatiable thirst for power will cost him as dearly as his missing eye once did.

Do you believe Aemond and Vhagar can maintain their dominance as more dragon riders join the battle, or is their reign already numbered?