House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 saw the Dance of Dragons begin with Vhagar claiming yet another victim, though one with a hidden tragedy behind it. For the most part, the dragons of House of the Dragon have been looming over the show’s story since it began. The reptilian companions have appeared more than they did in Game of Thrones, and have essentially been the subject of the brewing war; if dragons get involved, millions will die and destruction is inevitable.

In House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4’s ending, this became clearer than ever. This episode saw the Battle at Rook’s Rest explode the Dance of Dragons into fiery life, with several members of House of the Dragon‘s cast of characters involved. Criston Cole led the assault and planned an ambush that would result in Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar ambushing whomever Rhaenyra sent to defend the castle. The surprise involvement of King Aegon aboard Sunfyre resulted in Vhagar, Westeros’ largest dragon, causing untold carnage, with one of her victims hinging around a hidden, tragic backstory.

Vhagar Kills Her Former Rider’s Mother & Dragon

Vhagar’s Two Victims Had Familial Ties To The Dragon

The Battle at Rook’s Rest in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 resulted in the deaths of Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys, her loyal dragon. Rhaenys and Meleys were sent to aid the garrison of Rook’s Rest from Cole’s attack, unaware that Vhagar, Aemond, Sunfyre, and Aegon would also be present. After a valiant effort, Vhagar ambushed Meleys and killed her, sending the dragon falling to its death with Rhaenys aboard, ending the life of the Queen Who Never Was.

Vhagar’s attack would likely have been a horrible betrayal, as it is clear dragons are more emotionally intelligent than every other creature in Westeros…

Although the deaths of Meleys and Rhaenys are tragic enough in their own right, their connections to Vhagar make them even more heartbreaking. Before Aemond, Vhagar was ridden by Laena Velaryon, Rhaenys’ daughter. This means that Meleys and Vhagar would have spent a lot of time together on Driftmark where House Velaryon is situated. To Meleys, Vhagar’s attack would likely have been a horrible betrayal, as it is clear dragons are more emotionally intelligent than every other creature in Westeros.

Vhagar & Meleys Have An Even Stronger Connection In Targaryen History

The Targaryen Lineage Makes Vhagar’s Betrayal Of Meleys Even Worse

Image via Max

If the history between Vhagar and Meleys linked to Laena and Rhaenys was not enough, their history before that makes their battle in House of the Dragon season 2 even more painful. Before being connected to Laena, Vhagar was ridden by Baelon Targaryen, the father of Viserys and Daemon. Meleys also had another rider before Rhaenys: Alyssa Targaryen, Baelon’s sister-wife. This makes the historic connection between Vhagar and Meleys even stronger, as Baelon and Alyssa reportedly had a strong marriage.

In Fire and Blood, the prequel to the A Song of Ice and Fire book series on which House of the Dragon is based, Baelon is described as being incredibly faithful to his wife. Even later in life, after Alyssa’s death, Baelon rejected advances from other women. This proves how strong their relationship was, and thus, how much time their dragons likely spent around each other. With other dragons having similar connections, House of the Dragon‘s future episodes may be increasingly tragic as the Targaryen Civil War grows in severity.

The Dragons’ Connections Add Another Layer To House Of The Dragon’s Targaryen Tragedies

The Human Targaryens Are Not The Only Family Members Fighting To The Death

As evident by Meleys and Vhagar’s connection, House of the Dragon‘s Dance of Dragons goes deeper than the human tragedies on display. The Targaryen Civil War is often considered the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, as it saw the eventual extinction of the dragons and the weakening of the House. Naturally, House of the Dragon adequately displays these tragedies; brothers, sisters, cousins, daughters, sons, aunties, uncles, nephews, and nieces are all ruthlessly killing each other in a grasp for power that will only worsen in House of the Dragon‘s future episodes.

House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Remaining Episodes

Episode #
Release Date

5
July 14

6
July 21

7
July 28

8
August 4

This is the primary focus of House of the Dragon, but the connections between the dragons add another layer to the disastrous tragedies that are befalling House Targaryen. While dragon reproduction is complicated and has been explored less than the human lineage of House Targaryen, most – if not all – of the dragons in House of the Dragon are related. Either they have grown together from being hatchlings or had close connections, as evident with Meleys and Vhagar. If human death was not enough, House of the Dragon‘s dragon links only further prove how cataclysmic the Targaryen civil war truly was.