WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, "The Black Queen."Daemon undermining Aegon’s dream in Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire prophecy in House of the Dragon’s premiere, the purpose for the Targaryens’ long rule in Westeros was completely recontextualized. They weren’t simply conquerors who sought great power through their dragons, but were obligated to sit the Iron Throne in order to unite Westeros against the coming war against the darkness in the North. Those who believe in the dream assert that conquest was actually a form of salvation, while others simply promote Targaryen supremacy.
When Rhaenyra states that her oath is bigger than the Iron Throne due to Aegon’s dream, Daemon chokes her and says, “Dreams didn’t make us kings, dragons did.” While Daemon is technically right since the Targaryens needed dragons to conquer and maintain their long reign in Westeros, Aegon’s dream was the primary motivation for making Targaryens kings. It wasn’t for glory or ambition as Daemon suggests, it was to save humanity and bring forth the Game of Thrones’ Targaryens lost their power as kings once the dragons died out.
Why Daemon Doesn't Believe In Dragon Dreams
It’s possible that Daemon believes Aegon had such a dream, but he doesn’t believe in letting it dictate their rule in Westeros. Daemon believes in the power of their dragons, not in the power of their dreams. As Daemon mentions to Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon episode 10, dreams were what he believed weakened his brother Viserys’ reign. According to Daemon, Viserys was a slave to his omens and used dreams as a way to give his “feckless reign” a purpose. Daemon knew that he had a better propensity for rule and strength than Viserys, and wouldn’t let intangible dreams be what dictates his control in Westeros.
In Daemon's opinion, relying on dreams and prophecy does nothing to keep House Targaryen on the Iron Throne, but dragons do. Rather than see Rhaenyra repeat what he saw as a meaningless and weak reign from Viserys, Daemon wants to instill that dragons are what give them their power in House of the Dragon. If Rhaenyra simply relies on Aegon’s prophecy, she will never regain the throne, giving Aegon and Aemond the power to control the family as they like with their dragons. Dreams won’t allow Daemon to avenge King Viserys’ death by the Hightowers (as he perceives it), but dragons will.
Why Daemon Is More Connected To Dragons Than Other Targaryens
Targaryens with more fire in their blood seem to have deeper connections with their dragons, with Daemon being an extension of the danger, fury, and intimidation that his dragon brings. Unlike some Targaryens, Daemon is driven by power, authority, and violence, which the family accomplishes through their possession of dragons. Since Daemon always considered his brother to be weak, he found more value in what represented power and strength in their world, which happened to be dragons. Daemon holds dragons with particularly high regard and care after personally seeing the power they have to win wars, whereas other Targaryens may take their Valyrian blood and dragonriding ability for granted.
Daemon embodies the spirit of the dragon, not the spirit of the dreamer like Viserys or Helaena. Rhaenyra is somewhat in the middle, as she has the strong-willed personality of a fearsome dragonrider, but still honors the importance of Aegon’s prophecy. This duality is why Rhaenyra is so conflicted about waging war in House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale. Rhaenyra wants to reclaim her birthright, is angry at her father’s death and the greens’ usurpation, and knows her bloodline must sit the Iron Throne, but her duty to unite the realm and secure House Targaryen’s future for Aegon’s dream is stronger. Unlike Daemon or Viserys, Rhaenyra equally valuing dragons and dreams makes her an ideal Targaryen Queen.
Why Daemon Is Wrong About Targaryen Kings & Dreams
Daemon is right about dragons being vital to Targaryens becoming kings, but is wrong that they are more important than dreams. It was Daenys’ dream that saved House Targaryen from extinction before the Doom of Valyria, followed by Aegon’s dream actually giving the Targaryens their ambition to take Westeros. Had the Targaryens not had these dragon dreams, they wouldn’t have had the determination to become kings in the first place. Additionally, every dragon dream described in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones has come true, so while dragons themselves can’t always be relied upon, the Targaryens' prophetic dreams can.
House Targaryen has two major powers: Dragons and dragon dreams. While nearly every Targaryen has the opportunity to be a dragonrider and take power over the realm, the rare gift of precognition is what drives the Targaryens’ pursuit and ambition. Daemon had no understanding of Aegon’s dream before House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale, and is still ignorant of the prophecy’s true weight. Daemon only knows what he reads in history books and witnesses with his own eyes, which emphasizes dragons being responsible for the family's reign. The Targaryens still need dragons to continue being kings in House of the Dragon, but dreams are what put them on their path to the Iron Throne.