Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, "The Black Queen," and the book Fire & Blood.Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar kill Lucerys Velaryon and Arrax in the House of the Dragon season 1 finale, a shocking, devastating death with huge implications. Aemond and Lucerys’ rivalry has been one of the biggest subplots building in the back half of House of the Dragon season 1, beginning with Luke stabbing out Aemond’s eye, and then the latter’s toast to the “Strong boys.” The finale, though, takes it much further as they meet again at Storm’s End, each bidding for Borros Baratheon’s support. Though no blood can be spilled under his roof, Aemond sees a chance for revenge and takes it… and then some.
Aemond and Vhagar give chase to Lucerys and Arrax, demanding a debt to be paid; an eye for an eye. However, neither Aemond nor Lucerys is an experienced dragonrider, and they have little control in the heat of the battle. That’s especially true for Aemond, who is attempting (and failing) to command the biggest, most fierce beast in Westeros. With Arrax scared into breathing fire at an old dragon who is so much bigger and more vicious, Vhagar understandably (but brutally) responds; there can be no reasoning at that point. Despite Aemond's attempt to control her, Vhagar swallows Lucerys whole, Arrax’s remains tumbling down into the water, and House of the Dragon is irrevocably changed.
How Aemond Kills Lucerys In The Book
Although much of how Aemond and Vhagar kill Lucerys and Arrax in House of the Dragon is similar to how it goes down in the book, there’s a crucial difference: the show makes it an accident, which the book does not. In Fire & Blood, although based on historical accounts, it’s very clear Aemond intended to kill Luke; angered by both memory of what happened and being mocked by Borros’ daughters at Storm’s End after Luke has left (something the show omits), he flies after him in a rage and enacts his revenge, seemingly fully aware and in control of his actions.
The battle is said to be swift, with a few bursts of blame before it’s all over and Arrax falls from the sky. It fits with Aemond’s depiction as a brutal character who will not think twice before killing. There are also different accounts of what happens to Lucerys' body, including it being eaten by Vhagar or being washed ashore with both of his eyes cut out, something House of the Dragon definitively answers.
Why Did HOTD Make Aemond Killing Lucerys An Accident?
Having Aemond kill Luke by accident is a major change to the book, and so begs the question of why this was done. It’s a fascinating difference, which fits with much of House of the Dragon’s story: many of the key characters - most notably Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower (more so when younger) - have been shown in a more sympathetic light, and Aemond is among them. Although he taunted his nephews and was well on the path to being Daemon 2.0, the build up to him losing an eye had shown him to be the nicer of Alicent’s sons. Even after he was stabbed, he played down notions of revenge because he had his dragon, and ultimately for all his warrior posturing, is still someone who wouldn’t want to kill his family, especially a 14-year-old nephew.
It also helps to balance the scales in the battle of the greens and blacks. Rhaenyra has been House of the Dragon’s main character and largely sympathetic, but her side as a whole have been presented as the “good” team in the brewing war (whether that be her sweeter children, or Harwin Strong being as lovely as his hair) and left little room on who to root for. But part of the beauty of this world is how gray it is; having Aemond deliberately kill Lucerys would make the greens even more detestable (a high bar when they have Otto Hightower, Larys Strong, and Criston Cole). It’s still a heinous act, but one that actually helps his characterization and the greens faction feel more complicated and nuanced.
Vhagar Killing Lucerys & Arrax Makes Even More Sense Than Aemond Doing It
Aside from the change to character, there’s a lot of logic in having Vhagar kill Lucerys and Arrax in her own terms, rather than Aemond doing it. For her part, Vhagar is the oldest, most battle hardened and ferocious dragon in the world; no matter the rider, it makes sense she shouldn’t accept having another dragon attack her. Beyond that, though, it also better highlights the otherworldly power of dragons and how, when they are used, it’s bad for everyone (fitting with the idea they’re essential Westeros’ version of nukes). It’s the most brutal payoff of a King Viserys line, who said:
“The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion. They're a power man should never have trifled with. One that brought Valyria its doom. If we don't mind our own histories, it will do the same to us.”
How right he was.
What Lucerys’ Death Means For Aemond & The Greens
It will be interesting to see what Aemond does next after killing Lucerys. In the book, Aegon throws a feast in his honor whereas Otto and Alicent are shocked and appalled at his actions. Nonetheless, he continues on his path of being the fiercest, most ruthless, and dangerous combatant on the greens’ side. That could well be how it plays out in the show, and he may even play into out. After all, Fire & Blood is simply various historical accounts, but only Aemond knows the truth: perhaps he claims he really did kill Luke himself, rather than admit he couldn’t control his dragon.
But, if it’s going for a more sympathetic Aemond as this suggests, then it may try to change things further. He could be more hesitant into battle, and quite likely haunted by his actions. Even if it doesn’t change what happens to Aemond in House of the Dragon, it could certainly hang over him and be present in all of his actions. Being a Kinslayer is not a label that can be lost nor one to wear lightly, and it should make Aemond’s journey all the more complicated. As for the greens themselves, there’s little they can do: any hope of peace terms is shattered, there will be retribution from the blacks, and they are pushed beyond the point of no return.
What Lucerys’ Death Means For Rhaenyra & The Blacks
As the final shot of Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale suggests, there will only be one outcome of Aemond killing Lucerys: war. Rhaenyra had shown commendable restraint prior to this, refusing to be drawn into a sudden fight, even considering possible peace terms, and wanting to be strategic and consider all the options. That’s no longer the case. In a single episode, Rhaenyra has lost her father, her daughter, the Iron Throne, and now her second born son. Lucerys’ death is the point of no return, and the only response can truly be war. That will be on the battlefield, in the sea, and in the air. Aemond killing Lucerys means the Dance of the Dragons has officially begun.
How Revenge Will Be Enacted For Aemond Killing Lucerys
Lucerys’ quest for revenge was “an eye for an eye.” Similar bargaining will be applied to Luke’s death, except taken to its most brutal, harrowing extreme: “A son for a son.” Aemond doesn’t have children, but the payback will instead be upon the King himself. Believed to be upon the order of Daemon himself, two men - known only as Blood, a butcher, and Cheese, a ratcatcher - will be hired to infiltrate the Red Keep. They will break into Alicent’s chambers, bounding her and lying in wait for Queen Helaena to bring her and Aegon’s three children to see their grandmother before bed.
Blood and Cheese give Helaena a choice: one of her two sons must die, and if she refuses to choose they’ll all be killed. Helaena eventually chooses to have her youngest son, Maelor, killed, thinking him too young to understand; Blood instead kills their eldest, would-be heir to King Aegon, Jaehaerys. Helaena never recovers from the shock and loss, and it ensures that there will only be even more bloodshed and violence in the Dance of the Dragons. That should happen at some point in House of the Dragon season 2, and further change the course of war.
House of the Dragon will return for season 2 on HBO; a release date is TBC.
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