What Helaena's Spider Prophecy Really Means

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7, "Driftmark," and George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood.Helaena Targaryen makes a strange prophecy while playing with a spider in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7, "Driftmark," and its real meaning sets up much of the story to come. In terms of Alicent Hightower's children, the biggest focus in "Driftmark," is Aemond, who loses one eye but gains a dragon in the form of Vhagar. However, it's also revealed that there is a betrothal between Alicent's kids, as Aegon, whom she hopes to make King, will be married to his sister Helaena when they're older. Aegon's reluctant for various reasons, including House of the Dragon's portrayal of Helaena as a strange character who makes odd prophecies, like the one with a spider in episode 7.

The full speech of Helaena's prophecy is: "Hand turns loom; spool of green, spool of black. Dragons of flesh, weaving dragons of thread." Essentially, this is Helaena predicting the Dance of the Dragons. Hand turns loom (a machine for turning yarn into fabric) must refer to Otto Hightower, who is back as Hand of the King and plotting away once again (and could also be said to loom over proceedings, even). The spools of green and black refer to the civil war's factions: the greens of Alicent Hightower, the blacks of Rhaenyra Targaryen (names so given for the dresses each wore at a tourney in the books, and which can be clearly seen in the show's costuming). Dragons of flesh refers to different Targaryens: Alicent's children with King Viserys on one side, Rhaenyra's children on the other, and the very literal dragons they will ride into battle against one another, with the "dragons of thread" possibly a reference to their banners, but also, perhaps, Rhaenyra's kids with Harwin Strong too.

Helaena Targaryen's Prophecy Sets Up The Fates Of Alicent, Rhaenyra & Their Children

Helaena Targaryen's spider prophecy in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7 neatly links to events still to come in the show. In the House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8 trailer, Otto can be heard saying that war "looms," which feels like a pointed choice of words given the setup here, and shows how much of a driving force he will be in the Dance of the Dragons. Otto has long wanted Aegon to be Viserys' heir, even before Alicent did, and that's only going to increase as the story continues to unfold, and the realm becomes more divided between the greens and the blacks (sides that are already taking shape in King's Landing, but will become much bigger with other houses joining in the fight). The dragons of thread could refer to the different Targaryen sigils the two sides use - Rhaenyra has a traditional red dragon, Aegon has a gold one - with the thread quite literally being their banners.

The other interpretation is the idea of these dragons of thread being Rhaenyra's bastards with Harwin Strong, who will all die during the Dance of the Dragon, and may not be considered as being "dragons of flesh" in the same figurative way (in A Song of Ice and Fire, a prophecy concerning Daenerys refers to a "cloth dragon on poles" which is believed to refer to the banners of a mummer's, or false, dragon, i.e. someone who isn't a true Targaryen). Conversely, two of Rhaenyra's children with Daemon will survive, with their eldest (also named Aegon) going on to become King, while all of Alicent's children will also die during the civil war. So another interpretation could be that while these dragons of flesh are fully grown, from them will be dragons of thread, something that is much more easily destroyed or broken.

Helaena Targaryen's Other Prophecies In House Of The Dragon

Young Helaena Targaryen playing wih a bug in House Of The Dragon.

Helaena has made two other vague, prophetic comments in the show so far, both coming while she played with a bug in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6. The first was her saying "the last ring has no legs at all," which could be interpreted one of two ways. This could be a nod towards her brother (and future husband) Aegon, who during the Dance of the Dragons will fall from his dragon, Sunfyre, and shatter both of his legs, losing the use of them. Alternatively, it could even be a way of connecting Helaena to Bran Stark: he is the last King in Westeros (that audiences know of, at least), and lost the ability to walk in Game of Thrones season 1.

Helaena's other prophecy is much more clearly defined, coming shortly after the first she says - after a comment about Aemond wanting a dragon - "He'll have to close an eye." This came true in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7, as Aemond Tagaryen claimed Vhagar as his dragon, before going on to lose an eye, which was stabbed out by Lucerys Velaryon during a brawl. There's no evidence of Helaena being a dragon dreamer in Fire & Blood, but it's a fascinating change in House of the Dragon that adds a lot more intrigue to her character, and fits with its greater focus on Targaryen dreamers, including Aegon the Conqueror's A Song of Ice and Fire prophecy, and King Viserys' dreams of his son on the Iron Throne.

House of the Dragon releases new episodes Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Want more House of the Dragon articles? Check out our essential content below...