As a devoted fan who’s been riding the dragon of Westeros lore for well over two decades now, I must express my dismay at the latest twist in the tale of Sunfyre, the Conqueror’s mighty steed, in House of the Dragon. The series seems to be veering off the path laid down by George R.R. Martin in a way that even Drogon would find hard to ignore!
In the annals of Westeros, Aegon II was a contentious king, preceded later by Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm, Aemond. His main adversary was his older half-sister, Rhaenyra Targaryen. The validity of Aegon II’s rule was upheld by his dragon, Sunfyre, the Conqueror’s Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, a Valyrian steel dagger (which Aemond took from him), and the Conqueror’s crown. However, the second season of the ‘House of the Dragon’ spinoff of ‘Game of Thrones’ has been notorious for deviating from its original content, with one such departure being the seemingly fatal demise of dragon Sunfyre.
In the thrilling second season of “House of the Dragon,” snippets hinted at the enigmatic outcome of Sunfyre, my beloved dragon, following the Battle at Rook’s Rest. The tale goes that after a fateful crash in a forest adjacent to the coastal keep, Sunfyre wound himself around Aegon II. Yet, the realm remained unaware if this magnificent beast met his end, or if his absence was mourned. This leaves me wondering, could Sunfyre still be alive? And if he is, what profound impact might that have on Rhaenyra Targaryen’s fate?
What Happened At Rook’s Rest?
In a reckless move, Aegon II rashly charges into battle at Rook’s Rest, jeopardizing not only his own life but also the safety of the Greens faction. Being strategically inept, he dons his armor and summons his dragon, Sunfyre, to bolster his reputation that had been diminished by others. Alas, it was not an enemy’s blade that crippled him, but rather his own brother, Aemond. In the final moments of the battle, Vhagar fatally wounds Meleys by clamping her neck. Tragically, Princess Rhaenys falls to her death, and Sunfyre wraps itself protectively around the injured Aegon II in a nearby woodland.
In the fourth episode of “House of the Dragon” season 2, titled “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” Ser Criston Cole is struck with shock as he witnesses King Aegon II falling. He hastens towards the crash location, and Aemond swiftly retracts his sword. Simultaneously, Aemond snatches Aegon’s dagger, while Sunfyre emits sorrowful, agonizing screeches. In this scene, Aegon II remains unconscious, with Sunfyre still alive. Eventually, Aemond departs from the site, leaving Cole to kneel at the end of the episode.
Is Sunfyre Dead In House of the Dragon?
According to Cole, he deployed a portion of his troops to safeguard Rook’s Rest, a place where Sunfyre is based. This information about Sunfyre is derived from what Cole shared with Alicent.
I left a meager garrison behind to protect it [Rook’s Rest] and the king’s dragon.
In this section, events follow the tales from the books where Cole instructs some of his troops to safeguard Sunfyre at Rook’s Rest while the dragon recovers from its wounds. However, there’s a deviation from the original text in Cole’s dialogue towards the end:
Sunfyre was long in the dying.
In simpler terms, the phrase “‘long in the dying’” suggests that during the events of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 “Prince Regent”, Sunfyre is still alive but very close to death. However, this phrase could also be hinting at Sunfyre’s demise after these events.
Rhaenyra, the Dark Queen, stirs up more trouble when she informs her son Jacaerys that Meleys, their dragon, fought against not just one but two dragons (Vhagar and Sunfyre), with one of them allegedly perishing. It’s unclear if Rhaenyra boasted about Meleys defeating Sunfyre before it was slain or if the dragon is indeed deceased. Jace’s silence only adds to the confusion. The fact that Aegon is recovering in King’s Landing prompts the question: if Aegon II can endure a lethal fire blast, shouldn’t Sunfyre be healing too?
In the climactic finale of the season, Aegon II’s declaration, “‘My dragon has perished,’” has sent the fanbase into a whirlwind. Loyal servant Larys Strong makes an entrance in Aegon’s chambers with a daring plan to spirit Aegon away from the Red Keep for his protection. He proposes that they weather the turmoil brewing between Aemond and Rhaenyra in Essos, and then return to confront the fallout of their war. However, Aegon expresses shock at Larys’ suggestion, stating that escaping the Red Keep is futile since his dragon has already been slain, leaving him defenseless.
How Might Sunfyre’s Death Impact Rhaenyra’s Death?
How Does Rhaenyra Targaryen Die?
As per popular belief, and supported by Joffrey Baratheon’s confirmation from the original ‘Game of Thrones’, Rhaenyra was allegedly fed to Sunfyre by Aegon II. This refers to the continuity within the TV series.
As a devoted admirer, I find myself compelled to recount an unsettling tale: My beloved Rhaenyra Targaryen was not just slain by her brother; instead, it was his dragon that consumed her. In horrifying detail, her son bore witness as the beast devoured her.
In the series House of the Dragon, Sunfyre’s death presents an inconsistency in the plot that seems impossible to resolve. Rhaenyra’s character is portrayed as dying after escaping King’s Landing, seeking refuge at Dragonstone. However, unbeknownst to her, Dragonstone has already been taken by Aegon II, due to Ser Alfred Broome’s treachery. By the time she arrives at her stronghold, Aegon had seized Dragonstone from the Blacks, reacquainted with Sunfyre, and slain Baela Targaryen’s dragon, Moondancer, in battle. Aegon’s troops subsequently capture Rhaenyra, and he orders Sunfyre to attack her. Broome wounds Rhaenyra, and the scent of her blood incites the normally reluctant dragon to consume her. Sunfyre bites into Rhaenyra’s arm and shoulder, leaving a portion of her left leg behind.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my concerns about the recent turn of events in “House of the Dragon.” If Sunfyre indeed has stepped away from the scene, it seems the writers have veered off course from the original source material, sparking questions regarding Rhaenyra’s fate.
Did showrunner Ryan Condal and the writing team eliminate the character Sunfyre? If that’s the case, Rhaenyra’s future in the series will differ from what was depicted in Fire & Blood.
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2024-08-10 02:04