The death of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in Episode 4 of House of the Dragon was only the beginning of the bloody civil war between the Blacks and the Greens. The audience was captivated by an epic fight scene between three dragons: Meleys, Sunfyre, and Vhagar.
Rhaenys commands Meleys, while King Aegon II Targaryen rides Sunfyre and Prince Aemond Targaryen fights with Vhagar. The recent episode saw the fall of Rhaenys and her dragon, marking their last appearances in the show.
Aemond’s Vhagar Had A Long History With Rhaenys’ Meleys
It’s already heartbreaking to think that fans will no longer see Eve Best’s Rhaenys Targaryen in the next episodes of House of the Dragon after her character’s demise in Episode 4. Not only will Steve Toussaint’s Corlys Velaryon become a widower but Princess Rhaenys is one of the most well-liked figures in the show.
What’s more devastating to know is how her late daughter’s dragon, Vhagar, became the cause of her untimely death. Laena Velaryon rode the largest and oldest living dragon in the show until her death. Following her funeral on Driftmark, the ten-year-old Prince Aemond Targaryen took Vhagar as his own.
He was able to train himself on how to ride and command a dragon, and in the battle at Rook’s Rest, he used Vhagar to attack Rhaenys and Meleys, resulting in the princess’ immediate demise. Lady Laena loved Vhagar and it’s almost unthinkable that she will turn against her previous rider and kill her mother.
Before Aemond and Laena, Vhagar’s previous riders were Queen Visenya Targaryen and Prince Baelon Targaryen. The latter is the father of King Viserys Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen. Their mother, Alyssa Targaryen, claimed Meleys as her own.
Baelon and Alyssa spent most of their days riding dragons, and so to think that Vhagar and Meleys once flew together and perhaps had a connection that only dragons would understand is more soul-crushing after the latest episode.
House Of The Dragon Fans Mourn Rhaenys’ Death
Fans shared their grief over the death of Rhaenys. Those who have read the books surely knew what was coming, but the sudden twist of events absolutely caught them off-guard.
After it was suggested that she had time to flee but chose to sacrifice herself in Queen Rhaenyra’s name, the death of The Queen Who Never Was will always remain a very painful scene to watch. Check out fans’ reactions below:
In shambles. Absolute shambles.
— els (@e_stam315) July 8, 2024
In case Rhaenys' death had not hurt you enough, I come to remind you that Vhagar, before being Aemond's dragon, WAS LAENA VELARYON'S.
— Dracarys ⧗🔥🖤 (@julsbay99) July 8, 2024
RHAENYS DIED AT THE HANDS OF HER DAUGHTER'S DRAGON 💔💔💔#HouseOfTheDragon#LaCasaDelDragon#HotD pic.twitter.com/xxCrA4VTdY
feeling heartbroken thinking about rhaenys (and meleys) clashing with vhagar. the dragon her daughter loved. the dragon her daughter rode to a faraway place, never to see her mother again. the dragon that gave laena a dragonrider's death. the dragon that will be rhaenys' end too pic.twitter.com/Qda42VaHSr
— sarah 🍉 (@illusorycastle) July 7, 2024
What hurts me the most is that Vhagar was Laena's dragon (before to Aemond). Rhaenys was killed by her daughter's dragon. 😞🥲#HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/fFMQiHqqmt
— 🍏 (@_mruixiii) July 8, 2024
Rhaenys turning back to face Vhagar hits harder when you remember that Vhagar was previously ridden by and took the life of Rhaenys’s daughter, Laena 😭#HouseOfTheDragon #HOTD pic.twitter.com/UadBP5Q0tL
— Alice Meichi Li (@AliceMeichi) July 8, 2024
The remnants of this episode’s battle will earn its own repercussions in the next chapters. The Blacks will surely not let Rhaenys’ death end up in waste. As the Dance of the Dragons begins, more blood will be shed.
House of the Dragon Season 2 is now streaming on Max.
