Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 7 and George R. R. Martin's Fire & Blood.In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7, Rhaena Targaryen was initially set to claim her mother's dragon, but with Aemond stealing Vhagar, there are still multiple other dragons available for Rhaena. Rhaena's twin sister Baela has already claimed Moondancer, leaving Rhaena yearning to claim a dragon for herself. With Laenor Velaryon fleeing with Ser Qarl Correy to Essos, Rhaena could claim her uncle's dragon Seasmoke, but there are plenty of other dragons to choose from.
Inheriting the dragon-riding blood of her mother Laena and her father Daemon, Rhaena has more than one reason to claim a new dragon. Daemon has already shown Baela preferential treatment after her union with the dragon Moondancer. With their mother's passing, Rhaena will be especially eager to claim a dragon of her own to win back the favor of her father. Given that there are 17 confirmed dragons in House of the Dragon, with nine expected to appear in season 1, Rhaena won't be short of options.
The most feasible choice for Rhaena's new dragon would be Laenor's former mount Seasmoke. In a change from George R. R. Martin's Fire & Blood book, Rhaenyra and Daemon faked Laenor's death and allowed him the freedom to escape to Essos with Ser Qarl Correy. This would plausibly leave Seasmoke without a rider, as Laenor's anonymity would be compromised should his dragon follow him to Essos. Although a rider can only bond with one dragon, a dragon can have several riders over the course of its lifespan, leaving the option open for Rhaena to claim Seasmoke in House of the Dragon. But, there has never been a dragon that's been claimed by a new rider while their former rider is still alive. Rhaena claiming Seasmoke would also mark a change from the book, as Rhaena is known to claim a different dragon. All this means that there are actually several options available to Rhaena, including the likes of Vermithor, Silverwing, and Morning.
Which Dragon Does Rhaena Claim In The Fire & Blood Book?
In the Fire & Blood book, Rhaena claimed the dragon Morning. During the Dance of the Dragons, Rhaena brought three dragon eggs from a clutch with her to the Vale. One of these eggs eventually hatched, and Rhaena bonded with the dragon and named it Morning. House of the Dragon season 1 has seen Rhaena clinging to an unhatched dragon egg, but this egg seems unlikely to hatch, implying that her bond with Morning could be carried over from the books. House Hightower and the Greens were fearful following Morning's birth, as they believed that the common folk could view the Blacks as the stronger house with a new dragon. Ultimately, Morning proved to be inconsequential, as the dragon was still too small to be ridden during the conflict.
The fact that Aemond stole Vhagar and that Morning plays a small role presents an intriguing opportunity for the showrunners to further embellish the storyline from Fire & Blood, as there are still dragons nearly as big as Vhagar around at the time of the Dance of the Dragons civil war. Rhaena could claim Vermithor, the former dragon of King Jaehaerys. Nicknamed the Bronze Fury, Vermithor is one of the largest dragons in Westeros, outmatched in size by only Vhagar and Balerion. Additionally, another dragon named Silverwing looms large during the Dance of the Dragons. Around the same age as Vermithor, Silverwing belonged to Alysanne Targaryen, the wife of King Jaehaerys. Both are potentially suitable options for Rhaena to claim.
Regardless of which direction the showrunners choose to take with Rhaena's new dragon, there are an array of options to choose from. The most logical choice given the Laenor twist in House of the Dragon would be for her to take up her uncle's dragon Seasmoke. If they choose to stay consistent with the storyline from the Fire & Blood book, Rhaena could claim Morning. The most captivating choice and a compelling change from the book would be for Rhaena to claim Vermithor, a dragon that rivals the prowess of Aemond's stolen mount Vhagar.
New episodes on House of the Dragon release Sundays on HBO & HBO Max.
Want more House of the Dragon articles? Check out our essential content below...
- Complete House Of The Dragon Guide: All Your Questions Answered
- Where Was House Of The Dragon Filmed? All Real Life Westeros Locations
- House Of The Dragon Timeline Confirmed & Explained
- House Of The Dragon: Every Major Family Missing From Game Of Thrones