Warning! Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon episode 7.
The tension within the Targaryen family came to a head in House of the Dragon episode 6, Vhagar was without a rider. Aemond hadn’t yet laid claim to a dragon, but the previous episode made it clear that he was desperate for one of his own so that he may prove his worth as a Targaryen. Aemond bravely approached Vhagar after Lady Laena’s funeral, speaking to the massive dragon in High Valyrian in an attempt to bond with her. Aemond surprisingly succeeded, taking Vhagar out for a ride to stake his claim. Aemond’s success in becoming Vhagar’s new rider by using High Valyrian seems to turn the tide in House of the Dragon’s build-up to the Targaryen civil war, otherwise known as the Dance of the Dragons.
The High Valyrian language has had quite an impact on House of the Dragon. Not only do Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen use it to communicate, further proving and deepening their unusual bond, but many Targaryen and Velaryon dragon riders have used it in the show to command their dragons. In House of the Dragon episode 6, both Alicent’s and Rhaenyra’s children were shown being taught how to use High Valyrian to command dragons and bond with them. Though Aemond’s lesson was turned into a prank at the behest of his brother and cousins, his new bond with Vhagar will likely have them eating their words. Here’s what Aemond said to Vhagar to get the dragon to allow him to be her new rider, as well as what this turn of events could mean for House of the Dragon’s plot moving forward.
Aemond's High Valyrian Dragon Commands Translated
At first, Aemond sneakily tried to climb onto Vhagar while the dragon was sleeping, but the beast didn’t miss his presence and even threatened to burn him if he came any closer. Aemond shouted, “Dohaerās, Vhagar! Lykirī,” in response. In High Valyrian, “dohaerās” means “serve,” and “lykirī” means “calm.” In essence, Aemond was telling Vhagar to calm down and serve him, which he felt was his right as a Targaryen. Dragons do pick their riders, but Vhagar was initially skeptical of Aemon; she relented and let the young Targaryen Prince ride her in the end. After Aemond had managed to climb onto Vhagar’s back, he shouted the command “soves,” which is High Valyrian for “fly,” and the two ascended on their first flight together.
What Aemond Claiming Vhagar Means for HOTD
Aemond Targaryen’s claiming of Vhagar does significantly up the advantage of the “Greens” in the Dance of the Dragons. The “Greens” are those in of Alicent Hightower’s claim that her firstborn son Aegon should become King after Viserys’ inevitable ing instead of Rhaenyra becoming Queen. Otto Hightower even stated that Aemond’s laying claim to Vhagar “is worth a thousand times the price he paid.” Aemond may have lost an eye as a result of the fight with his cousins, but a dragon is a valuable asset in a war, especially against a family that has a number of them already on their side.
Vhagar is the oldest and largest dragon in Westeros during House of the Dragon’s timeline. The destruction she is capable of is nearly unmatched. She has over a centuries’ worth of battle experience by the time she turns up in House of the Dragon, and her fire is said to be so hot that it can not only melt a soldier’s armor but also burn the person inside it to ashes in a matter of seconds. A weapon like that has the capability of turning the tide in a war.
Next week’s House of the Dragon episode will feature the last major time jump, which is said to encom a total of eight years. By then, Aemond will have bonded completely with Vhagar. A match between Vhagar and Daemon’s dragon Caraxes or Rhaenyra’s she-dragon Syrax will undoubtedly provide quite the spectacle as House of the Dragon further explores the conflict that brought down the Targaryen dynasty.
New House of the Dragon episodes premiere Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.