- In the latest episode of “House of the Dragon,” Aegon suffers a terrible fall.
- It’s unclear whether Aegon is alive at the end of season 2, episode 4, but the books offer some clues.
- Here we explain Aegon’s position in the show and what happens to him in “Fire in Blood,” with spoilers included, of course.
Warning: Contains spoilers from season 2, episode 4, “House of the Dragon,” and the book “Fire and Blood.”
“House of the Dragon” finally let up on its holdback in its fourth episode, plunging into all-out war.
That’s right. Dragons finally make an appearance in Rhaenyra Targaryen’s war for the Iron Throne against her half-brother Aegon II. The show has progressed all the way to the Battle of Lucrest, a costly event featured in the original Fire and Blood. Instead of taking Harrenhal from Prince Daemon as expected, Ser Criston Cole leads an army to Lucrest. This seems like a ploy to lure out one of Rhaenyra’s dragons, but it works. Rhaenyra sends Princess Rhaenys and her dragon, Merys, the “Red Queen.”
Unfortunately for Christen Cole and his partner in crime, Aemond, Aegon took the lead at that moment, leaping into the battle aboard his dragon, Sunfire. Aegon’s fate is left ambiguous in the episode, but we’ll get to the clues in “Fire and Blood.” If you care about spoilers for the books (and potential spoilers for the show), turn back now.
Aegon chose the wrong time to play hero.
All in all, Criston and Aemond had a pretty good plan: attack Lucrest Castle, which is near Dragonstone Castle, lure out one of Rhaenyra’s dragons and destroy it with Aemond’s giant mount, Vhagar.
However, Aegon proved far more reluctant and foolish than either of them had anticipated, and when he arrived on the battlefield with Sunfire, it quickly became apparent that Rhaenys and Meryes had outmatched him, with Meryes severely wounding Sunfire before Vhagar even entered the battlefield.
But Aemond isn’t here to save his brother – in fact, this may be his chance to defeat him with one of Rhaenyra’s most powerful allies. While Meryce pins Sunfire in the air, Aemond orders Vhagar to set them all on fire, and Sunfire and Aegon plummet into the forest.
After the battle came to a disastrous end, Ser Criston sought out Aegon, but Aemond arrived before him at the crash site, and what they found was a horrible sight: Aegon lay limp on the ground, surrounded by smoking, moaning Sunfires.
However, in the third episode, Aegon dons Valyrian steel armor that reportedly belonged to Aegon the Conqueror, and it appears this is the armor he will wear into battle.
We know from “Fire and Blood” that “ordinary fire” cannot melt Valyrian steel. In the book, Vhagar lights the funeral pyre for Aegon the Conqueror, burning his body to ashes but leaving his Valyrian steel sword, Blackfyre, intact. Now let’s see how well Blackfyre can withstand the fierce attacks of a dragon.
Aegon and Sunfire survive in the books, but are badly disfigured.
In “Fire and Blood”, Merys, Vhagar and Sunfire clash at the Battle of Lucrest. The dragon battle ends when Vhagar falls from above on Merys and Sunfire, killing them. Sunfire and Aegon survive, however.
However, their condition is not good: one of Samfire’s wings has been torn in half and he is staying near the castle, where, according to the book, he remains, feeding on the corpses of those killed in battle and then on the livestock that Sir Criston brings with him.
Aegon suffered broken ribs and a broken hip, and was so badly burned that his armour had fused to the skin on his left arm.
In Fire and Blood, Martin writes that Aegon’s “burns caused him so much pain that some said he prayed for death.” He spent a year bedridden from his injuries and in pain, under the care of his maesters. Apparently, this meant that he was unfit to rule, and Aemond took over as Prince Regent.
Aegon and Sunfire both die in the end.
Later in the war, a small force loyal to Rhaenyra attempts to retake Rook’s Rest and kill Sunfire. They are unsuccessful, but soon afterwards Sunfire is nowhere to be found.
When Rhaenyra took King’s Landing, Aegon disappeared, along with his remaining children, Je’harah and Maelor. According to one historical account mentioned in Fire and Blood, Larry’s Strong smuggled them out of the city and put Aegon on a fishing boat bound for Dragonstone.
Aegon hides there, but Sunfire, who has been missing for six months, arrives on the island. Sunfire’s wings have healed and she is barely able to fly. The two begin flying together again, and soon forces loyal to Aegon take over the island. Aegon and Sunfire are forced to fight Daemon and Rhaena’s daughter, Bala, and her dragon, Moondancer. In the conflict, Moondancer is killed, Sunfire is unable to fly, Aegon jumps from his saddle and breaks both his legs, and Bala is taken prisoner.
However, Dragonstone also falls into Aegon’s hands: upon Rhaenyra’s arrival, he quickly makes her prey to his own dragon, Sunfire, who dies shortly thereafter.
Aegon returns to King’s Landing after his mother Alicent makes a pact with Lord Corlys Velaryon to lift the Velaryon blockade that had prevented his return, where he sits on a chair on its steps rather than on the Iron Throne, due to his broken leg.
The King then plotted revenge against those who had rebelled during the war, forcing the surrounding lords of the realms into submission. However, while Aegon’s council was pondering how to quell the rebellions across Westeros, Aegon was preoccupied with the issue of succession. He wanted to marry Lady Cassandra Baratheon and produce a new heir. (In the novels, Aegon’s sister and wife, Helaena, committed suicide after the death of their son, Maelor.) Similarly, he wanted to prevent the betrothal of his daughter Jaehaella to Aegon Jr., Rhaenyra’s son, and thus end Rhaenyra’s bloodline.
Eventually, armies enter King’s Landing, and Aegon is poisoned with adulterated wine as he is carried on a stretcher to the temple.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 airs Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and is available to stream. Max.
