Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3.

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, opens with House Bracken and House Blackwood’s conflict at the Battle of the Burning Mill, perpetuating a noble house feud that’s persisted for thousands of years. As the Dance of the Dragons kicks off and the realm has been split into the Black and Green factions, the Riverlands have become the battleground for war in Westeros once again. Episode 3 sees Criston Cole setting his sights on Harrenhal as he mobilizes the Greens’ forces, while Daemon has already flown on Caraxes to capture the ancient fortress.

Daemon’s goal in Harrenhal is to bring the bannermen of House Tully over to the Blacks, claiming that there are 40,000 swords in the Riverlands that haven’t sworn for either side. However, assembling armies isn’t all that simple, and a sizable portion of Tully bannermen are seen cutting each other down at the start of the episode, as Houses Bracken and House Blackwood have declared for opposing sides in the war. A petty fight is instigated between two young lords, and it results in a bloody conflict with thousands of lives lost at the Battle of the Burning Mill.

Who Are Houses Bracken & Blackwood?

Houses Bracken & Blackwood Are Lesser Noble Houses From The Riverlands

Houses Bracken & Blackwood are lesser noble families of the Riverlands, sworn to House Tully. House Bracken’s castle is called Stone Hedge, while House Blackwood rules from the nearby Raventree Hall. Both families are descended from the First Men, just like Houses Stark, Hightower, and Tully, meaning they’re ancient and proud houses that have held their positions for numerous generations. Unfortunately, the cost of having a multi-millennium neighbor is that the tension only gets worse over time. The Brackens & Blackwoods have been feuding for ages.

The Brackens & Blackwoods are lesser noble houses, but House of the Dragon has made an effort to demonstrate the importance of lesser castles and lords. In George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire book series, it’s the lesser houses that are often the X factors in political conflicts and wars. The most notable example that made it into Game of Thrones is that lesser houses of the North, such as Bolton and Karstark, make up a sizable portion of Robb Stark’s army. This is why it’s so costly when his bannermen start to turn on him.

When & How Did The Brackens & The Blackwoods’ Feud Start?

The Bracken/Blackwood Feud Began Thousands Of Years Before HOTD

A vital aspect of George R.R. Martin’s world and of House of the Dragon’s storytelling is that history is not always recorded accurately. Houses Bracken & Blackwood date back to the Age of Heroes, an era of Westerosi history that’s shrouded in mystique, best known for legendary figures like Brandon the Builder. Long before the heads of House Tully ruled the Riverlands as Lord Paramount, the region was divided into separate kingdoms, with the Brackens & Blackwoods both claiming to have ruled during this time, with the other house betraying and usurping them.

The actual genesis of this conflict is unknown, but the integral aspect is that both seem to think the other started it. There were times when the two remained peaceful, even allying with each other during the Andal invasion of Westeros. At a certain point in history, invaders from the Iron Islands assaulted the Riverlands, and House Bracken betrayed House Blackwood, who had attempted to defend their territory. Both houses ended up as subjects to House Hoare until the time of Aegon’s Conquest.

During Aegon’s Conquest, which will be shown in one of the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoffs, House Blackwood aids Aegon I in conquering the Riverlands. During this conflict, the Brackens & Blackwoods end up in a similar situation as they do in House of the Dragon, fighting their own little private battle off to the side. Because both of their houses were weakened from fighting each other, by the time Aegon came to power, he granted the title of Lord Paramount of the Trident to House Tully instead.

How The Brackens & The Blackwoods Feud Impacts House Of The Dragon

The Bracken/Blackwood Feud Has Metaphorical & Logistical Value To HOTD

The Brackens & Blackwoods feud carries over into the Dance of the Dragons, with the two houses coming to blow for the war’s first official battle. It’s specified in House of the Dragon that, at this time, these two houses consist of a significant portion of the Riverlands’ armed forces. They’re desired allies for both the Blacks and the Greens, but they end up killing a substantial portion of each other off before either side can claim them. There’s tactical importance here for the war, as the feuding houses have declared for opposing monarchs, but there’s also metaphorical value.

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 is about how cycles of violence come to pass, with the final scene between Rhaenyra and Alicent demonstrating how quickly anger and hatred can make things get out of hand. Even though neither of the opposing women wants war, too much has already happened to turn back. As Rhaenys says, no one will be able to determine the actual cause of the Dance of the Dragons, as it can be attributed to any number of events, such as Lucerys Velaryon’s death or Blood & Cheese.

The conflict between the Brackens & Blackwoods shows an example of how a feud can grow out of hand. Their violent cycle has persisted for thousands of years to the point where no one understands its root cause. Rhaenyra hopes to avoid war, as a war between dragons could be so gruesome and vile to the point where it eventually turns into senseless violence, much like the endless brutality displayed between the Brackens & Blackwoods.

Where Houses Bracken & Blackwood Are During Game Of Thrones

They’re Not Really In The TV Show, But They’re Feuding As Always In The Books

Houses Bracken & Blackwood both exist by the time of Game of Thrones. Neither house is featured prominently in the TV series, though they’re both mentioned, and their banners can be seen during the Tourney of the Hand in season 1. In George R.R. Martin’s novels, both houses join the side of House Stark and House Tully during the War of the Five Kings, fighting battles against Lannister forces throughout the Riverlands.

Following the Red Wedding, the rivalry between the Brackens & Blackwoods ensues, as the Blackwoods remain adamantly loyal to House Stark. On the other hand, House Bracken accepts a pardon from the Lannisters, and they begin a siege at Raventree Hall to force the Blackwoods into surrender. Jaime Lannister supports the Brackens in their siege in A Dance with Dragons. As for House of the Dragon, there’s still more for them to do, fighting for their opposing factions.