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Aemond Targaryen is the leader of the Greens inHouse of the Dragon, and now rules as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm. He is Alicent Hightower’s second son and third child overall and sits the Iron Throne after incapacitating Aegon with Vhagar’s fire at Rook’s Rest. He is the worst of the Greens at King’s Landing and the one who went to the extent of killing his brother to get the throne.
Aemond is also a force to reckon with inHouse of the Dragon. He sees himself as King Viserys' rightful and deserving heir. He considers Rhaenyra a pretender, and Aegon unworthy of the seat. He thinks he should get the Iron Throne since he excels at swordplay, is knowledgeable, and is a fierce Dragonrider. Now he distinguishes himself and identifies his position of power with the fabledValyrian steel daggerthat he stole from Aegon.
What Happened At Rook’s Rest InHouse of the Dragon?
Aemond picks up Aegon’s steel dagger in the aftermath of Rook’s Rest. It is his spoil of war and the second-most important thing besides his badge of glory. Criston Cole’s soldiers and the lickspittles who witness the battle with their own eyes wax eloquent about Aemond’s fierceness, but only a handful know what went down at Rook’s Rest. Alicent has misgivings about the way victory was achieved, and she suspects Aemond is somehow responsible for Aegon’s condition. Her brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower, on the other hand, doesn’t think ofRook’s Rest as a victory:
Strange victory if it was one.
Cole’s armies were meant to fight a proxy war at Rook’s Rest. As strategic as the stronghold’s location is, it must be noted that it was a mere ruse of war, intended to force the Blacks into acting recklessly. They merely instigated Lord Staunton’s soldiers into a fight, but the real battle was to be fought in the skies. As Lord Commander and Hand, Cole was wrong to permit the man without restraint, Aemond, to charge from the skies. With Daemon trapped at Harrenhal, Cole hypothesized that none of the dragons in the Blacks' camp would provide an answer for Vhagar. The Blacks, who at present do not have an army, expectedly sentone of their dragons to Rook’s Rest. However, the battle didn’t go as planned because Aegon decided to show up at the last minute to “aid” people fighting in his name.
Aegon wore the Valyrian steel armor, carried the Valyrian steel dagger, and flew Sunfyre above Rook’s Rest. He nearly lost his life, as Meleys got her claws into Sunfyre, leading to his injury and a loss of balance in the subsequent attacks. Things took a drastic turn with Aemond’s sneak attack. Hiding in the nearby forest, he lunged at Aegon and Rhaenys and commanded “Dracarys!” Rhaenys flew away, but Aegon was caught in the direct line of fire.
The Significance Of The Valyrian Steel Dagger InHouse of the Dragon
There’s no doubt that Aemond aimed Vhagar at his brother, Aegon, at Rook’s Rest. Before he took off to battle, the brothers got into an argument at the small council meeting, and Aemond expressed distaste for Aegon’s way of life. Aemond endured his foolery when Aegon questioned how he and Cole plotted an entire battle without his authority. Although Aemond did not foresee it,Rook’s Rest gave him that perfect opportunity to eliminatethe very person (Aegon) standing between him and the crown. Aemond walked up to Aegon in the aftermath of the battle and put away his sword because Cole called out his name. He picked up the Valyrian steel dagger that’s changed hands from Aenar toAegon the Conquerorand Viserys Targaryen and pointed it at his brother, who lay half dead on the ground with Sunfyre coiled around him.
The dagger is a recurring motif in theGame of Thronesuniverse. It was used to sparkthe war between the Starks and the Lannisters inThronesand is an equally important weapon too. Arya used it to smash the Night King in the Battle of Winterfell, and currently, it lies in her possession. In the prequel -House of the Dragon, Viserys tells Rhaenyra that Aegon hid his dream - the Song of Ice and Fire in High Valyrian, on the dagger’s blade, and the inscription glows when heated:
“From my blood, come The Prince That Was Promised and his will be the Song of Ice and Fire.”
The Valyrian steel dagger is starting to become Chekhov’s gun inHouse of the Dragon. It generated engagement at the beginning of the prequel and is a confirmation thatHouse of the Dragonisn’t an isolated story. Viserys demonstrated its importance to Rhaenyra and thereafter Aegon received it as a regalia.
Currently, Aemond remains unaware of the Valyrian steel dagger’s historical and eternal significance, as well asthe Song of Ice and Fire.He keeps it to cement his position as the Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm. The dagger has been in the possession of kings, and Aenar the Exile who saved his family from the Doom of Valyria. This distinctive weapon is indicative of Aemond’s new status. With it, he has achieved the Targaryen trifecta: a piece of his Valyrian ancestry (Valyrian steel weapon), a dragon, and the Iron Throne.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO’s prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
