Why Vermithor Is So Important & What Daemon Singing To Him Sets Up

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, "The Black Queen," and George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood.Daemon Targaryen sings in High Valyrian to the dragon Vermithor in House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale, with big implications for the future. With the Dance of the Dragons now properly beginning, Daemon recognizes the blacks have a big advantage over the greens: more dragons. Daemon tallies they have 13 (now 12, sadly) compared to the greens’ four, and is already setting about ensuring the weapons at their disposal aren’t going to go to waste.

Based on the mention of him and appearance, fitting with the nickname “the Bronze Fury,” the dragon Daemon goes to see and sings to is Vermithor, who will play a big role in the Dance. Vermithor’s only rider was King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, but he’s over 100 years old by this point in House of the Dragon’s timeline, and among the biggest dragons in Westeros. Vermithor is one of the few dragons who comes close to matching Vhagar in size and power, and as the season 1 finale shows, that kind of raw power can completely turn the tide of any situation, which Daemon hopes Vermithor will do for the blacks.

Full Translation & Lyrics Of Daemon's High Valyrian Song To Vermithor

House Of The Dragon Daemon Targaryen Vermithor

The translation of Daemon's song to Vermithor has been confirmed, thanks to the creator of the language for Game of Thrones, David J. Peterson (via Archive Of Our Own). The song Daemon sings is called "Hāros Bartossi" which translates to "With Three Heads" in English. The full lyrics of Daemon's song, in both High Valyrian and English (written by Ti Mikkel) are below:

Drakari pykiros / Tīkummo jemiros / Yn lantyz bartossa / Saelot vāedis

Hen ñuhā elēnī: / Perzyssy vestretis / Se gēlȳn irūdaks / Ānogrose

Perzyro udrȳssi / Ezīmptos laehossi / Hārossa letagon / Aōt vāedan

Hae mērot gierūli: / Se hāros bartossi / Prūmȳsa sōvīli / Gevī dāerī

Fire breather / Winged leader / But two heads / To a third sing

From my voice / The fires have spoken / And the price has been paid / With blood magic

With words of flame / With clear eyes / To bind the three / To you I sing

As one we gather / And with three heads / We shall fly as we were destined / Beautifully, freely

Why Daemon Sings To Vermithor & What Does It Really Mean

Daemon in House of the Dragon season 1 episode 10

Daemon singing to a dragon has a few possible motives and meanings, all of which factor into House of the Dragon’s future. In pure character terms, it helps to further establish Daemon’s more volatile nature: from his bond with Caraxes to being the one to get Syrax’s dragon eggs, and now singing to Vermithor, Daemon is essentially shown as one with the dragons, more of a kindred spirit with them than anyone else. The idea of a Targaryen person being a “dragon” has been used before (with Game of Thrones’ Viserys and Daenerys, to varying degrees), but never to this extent. Many of the lyrics pertain to Targaryen history, seemingly referencing the Doom of Valyria ("blood magic") and Aegon's Conquest ("winged leader").Daemon’s High Valyrian dragon song also likely serves a dual purpose for Vermithor.

One is for Vermithor to become more socialized again, having not had a rider since King Jaehaerys I Targaryen (who has been dead for around 30 years). Similarly, Daemon is seemingly promising Vermithor he will get a new rider soon and bringing him into the fold properly, bonding with him ("as one we gather") and setting up events to come later in House of the Dragon. but also, given Daemon’s belief in dragons winning them the impending war it would make sense for him to be looking to find riders for House of the Dragon's other dragons ("fly as we were destined."). As for where Daemon acquired the knowledge about the song, it’s plausible that it’s something he heard he grandfather, Jaehaerys, doing with Vermithor. Otherwise, he did spend a lot of time reading in Pentos, and could have gained the knowledge there.

Who Rides Vermithor In The Dance Of The Dragons

Vermithor will be ridden by a blacksmith’s bastard called Hugh, who will later go on to call himself Hugh Hammer (for wielding a warhammer). As it stands, while the blacks have several dragons, they don’t have as many dragonriders. That will change when, during the Dance, Jacaerys Velaryon will put out a call for “dragonseeds,” people who have some trace of Targaryen blood and may be able to ride a dragon. It’s an endeavor that leads to several brutal and fiery deaths as many try and fail, but Hugh is among those who is successfully able to bond with a dragon, becoming Vermithor’s second ever rider.

Hugh and Vermithor will play a key role in some of the Dance of the Dragon’s biggest battles. They will fight in and help win the Battle of the Gullet, a bloody sea battle that sees the blacks defeat the Triarchy (who are allied with the greens). Later, however, at the First Battle of Tumbleton, Hugh will betray the blacks, with he and another dragonseed - a man named Ulf, who rides the dragon Silverwing - defecting to the greens, helping them to win the battle.

House of the Dragon will return for season 2 on HBO (release date TBC).

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