Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7, and the book Fire & Blood.

Summary

• Vermithor and Silverwing, two dragons in House of the Dragon, play a key role in the battle against the Greens.
• The dragons were previously bonded with and flown by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne, but were then riderless for around 30 years.
• Vermithor and Silverwing are claimed by Hugh Hammer and Ulf White in House of the Dragon season 2.

Silverwing and Vermithor will be two of the most important dragons going forward in dragons in House of the Dragon, with most of them belonging to Rhaenyra Targaryen's Team Black. They need all the firepower they can get if they're to defeat the Greens, especially because they have the biggest dragon, Vhagar.

That's where Vermithor and Silverwing come in, with the former first appearing in Dance of the Dragons pays off big time, with Hugh and Ulf claiming them. The dragons will take on a bigger role in the story, but they've already got quite the history.

Silverwing & Vermithor's History & Previous Riders

Vermithor & Silverwing Were Bonded With The King & Queen

Silverwing and Vermithor are both close to 100-years-old during House of the Dragon season 2's timeline - the latter was born around 34 AC, the former just a few years later, making them two of the oldest dragons around outside of Vhagar (who is approximately 180-years-old at this point). Silverwing is a she-dragon whose name comes from her appearance, as she is described as "silvery," while Vermithor is a male dragon whose appearance and fierce nature earns him the nickname "the Bronze Fury."

Vermithor hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, and Silverwing from one given to his sister, Alysanne, and they later bonded with and were flown by them. Jaehaerys became King in 48 AC, and he and Alysanne became the riders of Vermithor and Silverwing, respectively, that same year.

Jaehaerys' rule was mostly a peaceful one, meaning there wasn't too much cause for the dragons to see battle. The most notable story about them during this period comes from their visit to the Wall, as recounted by Lord Cregan Stark in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1.

Jaehaerys and Alysanne flew their dragons to the Wall, but Vermithor and Silverwing refused to go beyond it (or couldn't). Ostensibly, the reason for this is that they sensed the White Walkers lurking in the far North. In the book, it's only said that Silverwing refused to fly beyond the Wall (with Vermithor not present at that exact point), but the show included them both in the story. Given their riders, Vermithor and Silverwing were mates and coiled together

Queen Alysanne died in 100AC (a year before the first scene of House of the Dragon season 1, which begins at the Great Council of 101 AC), and King Jaehaerys died three years later. No one has claimed Vermithor nor Silverwing since, meaning they lived riderless on Dragonstone for around 30 years, until the Dance of the Dragons meant they needed to be called into action.

Ulf Rides Silverwing & Hugh Rides Vermithor In House Of The Dragon

The Riders Are Not Highborn Targaryens

The riders of the two dragons are quite unlikely: Ulf the White rides Silverwing, and Hugh Hammer rides Vermithor. Ulf was first introduced in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2, where he claimed to be the bastard son of Baelon Targaryen, and thus the half-brother of Viserys and Daemon. Hugh, meanwhile, debuted in the season 2 premiere, as a smith working in King's Landing, and became a prominent part of the smallfolk story there.

How Was Ulf Able To Claim Silverwing?

There's no record that Ulf is actually who he claims, but he is a dragonseed - that is, people with traces of Valyrian blood, which is believed to be enough to mean they can ride dragons. If Ulf really were Baelon's bastard, then he'd be the grandson of Silverwing's previous rider, Alysanne. Even if not, Silverwing obviously sensed something within him - perhaps a credit to the fact he made it this far - that led to them bonding.

Ulf didn't actually try to claim Silverwing, and that might be part of it as well. He accidentally comes across the dragon after going deeper into their lair, attempting to discover a way out. If Silverwing had grown similarly lonely - like we heard Seasmoke had previously - then that could be another factor in their bond.

How Did Hugh Claim Vermithor?

In Fire & Blood, it is noted that Lord Gormon Massey tried to claim Vermithor, and the Bronze Fury burned him. He has a fierce nature - whereas Silvering is said to be calmer - and burns everyone in his path in season 2, episode 7... except for Hugh. The smith is seemingly ready to sacrifice his own life to save another, and tries to match Vermithor's anger, which works in his favor: Vermithor may see Hugh as someone similar to himself, and appreciate his bravery.

Like with Ulf, it's also possible that Hugh's lineage helps him here. Not just that he's a Targaryen, but who he's related to. He says his mother worked in a pleasure house, and was the aunt of Viserys and Daemon. That could mean she was Jaehaerys' daughter, Saera, who in the book did work in a pleasure house and had bastard children. If so, then Hugh is Jaehaerys' grandson, a direct line to Vermithor's last rider. Dragons seemingly like that kind of connection - similar to Seasmoke choosing Addam - and it's likely a factor for both Ulf and Hugh.

The wild dragons Grey Ghost and The Cannibal also reside on Dragonstone, but go unclaimed and are never tamed.

How Big & Powerful Are Silverwing & Vermithor Compared To Vhagar?

Could They Beat The Biggest Dragon Alive?

Regardless of the people who failed, it is Ulf and Hugh who ride Silverwing and Vermithor in the Dance of the Dragons. They are a huge boon to the power of Rhaenyra's Team Black, giving them two large, powerful dragons. But just how big and powerful are they? After all, what really matters if being able to beat Vhagar, so can either of them do that?

Vermithor is larger still, and comes second only to Vhagar in size in of dragons that are claimed.

Silverwing is a large dragon, bigger than the best Team Black has had to offer so far, such as Caraxes and Meleys, albeit more docile in nature, less battle-tested, and likely not as quick and agile (certainly compared to Meraxes, who used that to her advantage against Vhagar). Vermithor is larger still, and comes second only to Vhagar in size in of dragons that are claimed. He is more ferocious and has a lot of brawn, but again, doesn't have the same experience Vhagar does.

If Silverwing and Vermithor teamed up against Vhagar, they'd have a good chance of defeating her. One on one, however, while Vermithor vs. Vhagar could be a close fight, it's unlikely either dragon would get the job done given Vhagar's much greater combat experience (Vermithor's most notable experience is the Fourth Dornish War, which mostly involved burning ships from above). Nonetheless, they are two major assets in House of the Dragon.

What Happens To Silverwing & Vermithor In House Of The Dragons

The Two Have A Significant & Surprising Role In The Book

Silverwing and Vermithor's first taste of action in the Dance of the Dragons comes in the Battle of the Gullet, which will likely occur in House of the Dragon season 3. This is a battle where the Triarchy, allied with Otto Hightower, attempts to smash Corlys Velaryon's blockade of the Gullet, with some 90 warships sent to do so. Eventually, almost the full strength of Team Black's dragons are sent, including Silverwing, Vermithor, Seasmoke, and Sheepstealer, turning the battle in their favor.

It's not all good news for the Blacks, however, as Ulf and Hugh do later betray Rhaenyra at the First Battle of Tumbleton, likely because of their own greed.

It's not all good news for the Blacks, however, as Ulf and Hugh do later betray Rhaenyra at the First Battle of Tumbleton, likely because of their own greed. They switch allegiance and the Greens, causing Team Black to lose that particular battle. Vermithor eventually dies in the Second Battle of Tumbleton, but Silverwing is one of the few dragons to survive the Dance of the Dragons, which will presumably be the case in House of the Dragon too.

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.