WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon season 1, episode 9!Tyland Lannister subtly sets up one of the most devastating moments in House of the Dragon, which takes place at the Baratheons’ home in Storm’s End. House of the Dragon has finally reached the Targaryen civil war, with season 1 set to leave off on a particularly tragic event. As the green council stages a coup in King’s Landing, Otto Hightower and Tyland Lannister discuss which houses they still need to appeal to for support. House of the Dragon episode 9 emphasizes that House Baratheon could sway to either side, with the power of their armies and geographical advantage being important for victory. As such, appealing to Storm’s End is the first priority for both the Targaryen black and green factions.
The mention of Storm’s End in House of the Dragon episode 9 is setting up the Dance of the Dragons’ first major event before the real battles begin, which marks a brutal shift in the war. Rhaenyra’s blacks will send her son Lucerys Velaryon to appeal to Storm’s End, while Aegon’s greens send Aemond Targaryen. George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book reveals that the two face off at Storm’s End, with Aemond drawing his sword and verbally taunting Lucerys. After ignoring Aemond’s provocations by stating he was only sent as an envoy, Luke flees on his dragon Arrax, but is pursued by Aemond and Vhagar over Shipbreaker Bay. Following a short conflict, both Lucerys and his dragon are tragically killed.
Why Aemond Kills Lucerys At Storm's End
Considering Aemond had just won Storm’s End’s support for the greens over the blacks, there was no reason to attack his nephew. With the war already beginning, Aemond was intent on continuing to assert his dominance over Rhaenyra’s sons, particularly Luke, who removed Aemond’s eye during a fight in House of the Dragon episode 7. Additionally, Luke was part of a childhood prank on Aemond involving a pig dressed up as a dragon (though instigated by Aegon), with teenage Lucerys later laughing at Aemond when seeing a roasted pig placed in front of him at dinner. Even if it wasn’t malicious, Lucerys had mocked the unforgiving and volatile Aemond, with their confrontation at Storm’s End giving Aemond his best chance for revenge.
Aemond had been more prone to violence and cruelty since claiming Vhagar, and felt compelled to prove himself against anyone who dare mock or ignore him. Since Aemond had unresolved grievances against his nephew Lucerys, being face-to-face with him at Storm’s End and knowing he would emerge victorious gave him the validation of superiority he desired. Aemond would have wanted to kill Luke either way, but under the guise of war, his murderous actions were justified by King Aegon II Targaryen. However, House of the Dragon will prove that Aemond’s foolish kinslaying doesn't go unanswered, causing backlash from Otto and Alicent in addition to Rhaenyra’s black party.
What Lucerys' Death Means For The Dance Of The Dragons
Luke’s death is the event that changes the dynamic of the Targaryen civil war; his tragic murder shifts the Dance of the Dragons from being defined by pacts and allegiances to blood and fire. There hadn’t been any battles before the greens and blacks met at Storm's End, but Luke and Aemond’s “fight” over Shipbreaker Bay changed this. Following Lucerys’ death, House of the Dragon’s war will be merciless on both sides, with the ensuing dragon battles proving utterly catastrophic.
While the blacks had yet to significantly fire on the green party, Aemond killing Lucerys led to the immediate need for vengeance, with the blacks’ retaliation being far more unforgivable than the greens' crime. The horrifying “Blood and Cheese” scene in House of the Dragon will be a direct response to Lucerys’ death, which sees the assassins Blood, a butcher, and Cheese, a ratcatcher, behead the six-year-old Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen in front of his mother Helaena Targaryen. Also known as the “son for a son” moment, Lucerys and Jaehaerys’ deaths begin an era of rampant cruelty for both Rhaenyra’s blacks and Aegon’s greens.
New episodes of House of the Dragon release Sundays on HBO/HBO Max.