WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 8 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!
Summary
Rhaena Targaryen discovers there’s a wild dragon living in the Vale of Arryn inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, which is a major departure for George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook. Unsurprisingly, given its moniker, theDance of the Dragonsfeatures the deaths of numerous dragons and dragonriders, causing major issues for both sides as dragons become the war’s most powerful weapon. However, as Rhaenyra and Jacaerys discussed in season 2,there are still several unclaimed and wild dragons in Westerosthat could be bonded with a rider.
Team Black has several dragonsalready, with Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Silverwing joining their ranks in season 2, but there could be more.Rhaena Targaryen discovers a wild dragons is in the Vale, with Jeyne Arryn revealing he is “large and formidable” and has been burning sheep for food in the area. Rhaena herself comes face to face with it inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending, setting up a bigger role going forward. While the show has yet to confirm its name,Fire & Bloodhints at the real identity of the Vale’s wild dragon.
Every Dragon In House Of The Dragon Explained
As war erupts in Westeros, dragons will be sent to battle. Here’s a description of every dragon in HBO’s House of the Dragon, heading into season 2.
The Wild Dragon In The Vale Is Most Likely Sheepstealer
Sheepstealer Is The Only Wild Dragon Who Is Claimed During The Dance In Fire & Blood
In George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook, there arethree known wild dragons roaming Dragonstone: Grey Ghost, the Cannibal, and Sheepstealer. While Grey Ghost and the Cannibal may still play a role at Dragonstone, though they’ve not appeared yet (and may well be cut entirely), it seems thatHouse of the Dragonhas moved Sheepstealer to the Vale.
House of the Dragonseason 2 shows this dragon burning and eating flocks of sheep in the vale, thus inspiring Sheepstealer’s name. Plus, Sheepstealer is the only wild dragon who is claimed by a dragonrider inFire & Blood, which all but confirms that he is the one Rhaena sees in season 2.
Silverwing & Vermithor Explained: Who Rides Them In House Of The Dragon, History & How They Compare To Vhagar
Silverwing and Vermithor are two of the biggest dragons in the Dance of the Dragons, and have an important role in House of the Dragon’s story.
It’s unclear how the wild dragon has roamed around the Vale without anyone having alerted the Targaryens, as Sheepstealer was claimed back on Dragonstone in the book. However, it’s now no wonder as to why Jeyne Arryn agreed to protect and hostRhaenyra’s young childrenand Daemon’s daughter, as she was likely eager to find a rider for Sheepstealer at the Eyrie.
When Rhaena finally sees Sheepstealer in the season 2 finale, they certainly aren’t as large as some of thebiggest dragons inHouse of the Dragon. This is in part due to their age, but also that they’ve obviously been struggling for food, hence roaming to the Vale. However, they are still of fighting size, and bigger than some of the other dragons in the Dance, such as Syrax.
Sheepstealer is well over 50 years old inHouse of the Dragon, as his egg hatched when King Jaehaerys I Targaryen was still"young."
Will Rhaena Claim Sheepstealer? Who Bonds With Him In The Book
Rhaena Will Likely Claim Sheepstealer, But He Bonds With A Different Character In Fire & Blood
While some bastards are now dragonriders, such as Hugh Hammer claiming Vermithor and Ulf White bonding with Silvering, the wild dragon’s rider looks set to be a highborn Targaryen.It now seems very likely that Rhaena Targaryen will claim Sheepstealerin the show. Rhaena never hatched a dragon egg and was previously unsuccessful in trying to claim the dragons at Dragonstone, so Sheepstealer may finally be the one to take her as a rider.
The Cannibal
N/A
However, Rhaena claiming Sheepstealer would change two big dragon storylines fromFire & Blood.Rhaena finally gets a dragonwhenher egg hatches at the Vale in the book, giving her the pink-scaled dragon Morning. While Rhaena’s dragon is still extremely young and small throughout the Dance, hatching Morning is an important part of her narrative in the novel. Additionally, an entirely different character claims Sheepstealer in the book, a “dragonseed” hailing from Driftmark.
With the wild dragon now making his home in the Vale, it seems likely that Nettles is being cut fromHouse of the Dragonin favor of Rhaena claiming Sheepstealer.
InFire & Blood, Sheepstealer is claimed by Nettles, a fearless bastard teenage girl who took up Prince Jacaerys’ call for dragonseeds to try mastering dragons. It’s explained that Nettles is able to bond with Sheepstealer by bringing him slaughtered sheep to eat each morning, with the two becoming major players for Rhaenyra and Team Black’s war strategy. However, with the wild dragon now making his home in the Vale, it seemslikely that Nettles is being cut fromHouse of the Dragonin favor of Rhaena claiming Sheepstealer.
It’s technically stlll possible for Nettles to appear, but since the sowing of the dragonseeds seems to be done with, it would be strange to have her enter the story and claim Sheepstealer inHouse of the Dragonseason 3. Since season 2 ends with Rhaena coming face to face with the wild dragon, then it is very overtly setting up her claiming the dragon and joining back up with Team Black in the civil war.
What Happens To Sheepstealer
Sheepstealer’s Fate Is Left Ambiguous In Fire & Blood
Sheepstealer’s fate is one of the greatest mysteries left byFire & Blood. The book ends just five years after the arguably winner-less Dance of the Dragons is over, so not every surviving character is given a conclusive fate. While Sheepstealer and Nettles fight for Rhaenyra in the book, the Queen becomes suspicious of her dragonriders afterHugh Hammer and Ulf White betray her. Daemon then sendsNettles and Sheepstealer away from Maidenpool to flee Rhaenyra’s wrath, with the two disappearingfor the remainder of the war.
AfterQueen Rhaenyra diesand King Aegon II Targaryen takes King’s Landing back, he hears reports about Nettles and Sheepstealer being sighted in the Vale of Arryn. Mountain clans even tell stories about a “fire witch” who lived in the Vale with her dragon, suggesting the two may have hidden there after the war. Since there’sno conclusive record of when or how Sheepstealer dies inFire & Blood, there’s hope thatHouse of the Dragonwill finally be able to solve this mystery.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
