Dreamfyre is featured in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6, which supports a theory about Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons from Game of Thrones.
Warning: Contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6, and George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
A major idea regarding Daenerys Targaryen is supported by the introduction of a new dragon in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6. So far, there have been a number of dragons in House of the Dragon, from Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Syrax and Daemon Targaryen’s Caraxes through Laenor Velaryon’s Seasmoke and Rhaenys Targaryen’s Meleys. With the introduction of Vhagar (Laena Velaryon’s), Vermax (Jacaerys Velaryon’s), and a reference of Sunfyre in episode 6, more are introduced and others are set up (who belongs to Aegon Targaryen). All of them are notable and will play a role, but besides them (and the pig, of course), Dreamfyre, who terrifies Aemond in the Dragonpit, stands out as the most fascinating.
She is a dragon that has never been seen before and is definitely there in King’s Landing (it was her egg Daemon stole earlier in the season). Dreamfyre has a strong link to the on-going civil war because of her kinship with Helaena Targaryen, but what makes her particularly intriguing is that she is the only dragon in the House of the Dragon that resembles Daenerys’ dragons in any significant way. Daenerys’ dragon eggs are believed to have been laid by Dreamfyre, and the fact that the show makes Daenerys look so much like Drogon even though it makes great effort to distinguish the dragons visually could be a telling nod to that lineage.
Was Dreamfyre Really the Source of Daenerys’ Dragon Eggs?
In addition to the obvious connections, Dreamfyre’s bonding with Rhaena Targaryen, the descendant of Aegon the Conqueror, in 54 AC provides more support for her status as the genuine dragon mother, if you will. Elissa Farman, Rhaena’s lover, stole three of Dreamfyre’s eggs before escaping to Essos and selling them to the Sealord of Braavos for the cash she needed to construct her own ship. It is unclear what happens to the eggs after that. However, there is evidence to suggest that the three dragon eggs Elissa stole and never again located were the same ones Illyrio Mopatis gave to Daenerys.
Given that the eggs were previously in the care of a Sealord, it’s not improbable that they originated from Asshai and ended up there. In addition, it is stated that the eggs would turn to stone if they were placed far from Dragonstone, which is how Dany is shown them.
The notion could be true in show canon even if it isn’t true in book canon, and there isn’t much more to either support or refute it. As George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood (which draws on various in-universe historical sources) presents a different and more conclusive version of events, it is possible that House of the Dragon chose to confirm this theory by making Dreamfyre resemble Daenerys’ dragons. Dreamfyre is supposed to be a light blue color with silver markings in the book, but this doesn’t seem to be the case in the movie; it could just be the lighting, which makes it difficult to tell.
Of again, it’s also conceivable that the resemblance stems from the employment of the same CGI model as Drogon. Both the body and the head of the two dragons are remarkably similar, indicating that portions of the same design may have been purposely used twice. All the other dragons are obviously different, proving that the production hasn’t cut any corners, but this could have had a nice dual benefit, advancing both the production and the worldbuilding of the story. The fact that Dreamfyre is the mother of Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons doesn’t really change much, but it does establish a clear connection between the dragons in House of the Dragon and those in Game of Thrones.
Dreamfyre’s fate is revealed in House of the Dragon
Unfortunately, Dreamfyre and her rider, Helaena, do not have a happy future in the House of the Dragon, unlike her potential son Drogon (who lived to be the last dragon). One of the most horrific scenes in The Dance of the Dragons involves Helaena: Daemon hires Blood, a butcher, and Cheese, a ratcatcher, to sneak into the Red Keep and kill one of Aegon and Helaena’s children; a son for a son; in retaliation for the death of Lucerys Velaryon (who is killed fighting Aemond at Storm’s End).
When Helaena refuses to choose, the two threaten to rape her daughter Jaehaera, kill all three of them, and force her to choose between her two sons, Jaehaerys and Maelor. Because Maelor is younger and less likely to understand what is happening, she ultimately decides to use him; Blood and Cheese kill Jaehaerys instead and flee with his head.
Helaena experiences depression, finally becomes insane, and then commits suicide. She was no longer a dragonrider during that period, and Dreamfyre was left tied up in the Dragonpit without another rider to lead her into battle. Dreamfyre was set free during the Storming of the Dragonpit, a riot that broke out in King’s Landing in opposition to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s rule after she had taken the city. Dreamfyre killed many people during the riot before being killed by a crossbow bolt that blinded her. She was crushed and buried by the ensuing debris after colliding with the Dragonpit as a result.
Whatever dragon laid the eggs that gave rise to Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, Dreamfyre plays a significant but tragic part in House of the Dragon. She and Helaena have become even more connected throughout the episode, with the latter appearing to be prophetic in some way. Helaena foretells Aemond losing one eye in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6, which does occur in Fire & Blood (but the foresight aspect does not) and the show, as confirmed by trailers that show him wearing an eye patch. Their fates will be tragic, but this gift at least makes it more appropriate that Helaena chose a dragon by the name of Dreamfyre.
