Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based.

Silverwing and Vermithor will be two of the most important dragons going forward in House of the Dragon. There are several dragons in House of the Dragon, with most of them belonging to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Team Black. However, they need even more firepower if they’re to defeat the Greens, especially because they have the biggest dragon, Vhagar.

That’s where Vermithor and Silverwing come in, as they’re two of the riderless dragons who reside on Dragonstone (Vermithor appeared in House of the Dragon season 1’s ending, with Daemon Targaryen singing to him). With Rhaenyra and her son, Jacaerys Velaryon, planning to find people with traces of Valyrian ancestry to fly the creatures in the Dance of the Dragons, then Vermithor and Silverwing will take on a bigger role in the story, but they’ve already got quite the history.

Silverwing & Vermithor’s History & Previous Riders

Vermithor & Silverwing Were Bonded With The King & Queen

Silverwing and Vermithor are both close to 100-years-old during House of the Dragon season 2’s timeline – the latter was born around 34 AC, the former just a few years later, making them two of the oldest dragons around outside of Vhagar (who is approximately 180-years-old at this point). Silverwing is a she-dragon whose name comes from her appearance, as she is described as “silvery,” while Vermithor is a male dragon whose appearance and fierce nature earns him the nickname “the Bronze Fury.”

Vermithor hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, and Silverwing from one given to his sister, Alysanne, and they later bonded with and were flown by them. Jaehaerys became King in 48 AC, and he and Alysanne became the riders of Vermithor and Silverwing, respectively, that same year.

Jaehaerys’ rule was mostly a peaceful one, meaning there wasn’t too much cause for the dragons to see battle. The most notable story about them during this period comes from their visit to the Wall, as recounted by Lord Cregan Stark in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1.

Jaehaerys and Alysanne flew their dragons to the Wall, but Vermithor and Silverwing refused to go beyond it (or couldn’t). Ostensibly, the reason for this is that they sensed the White Walkers lurking in the far North. In the book, it’s only said that Silverwing refused to fly beyond the Wall (with Vermithor not present at that exact point), but the show included them both in the story. Given their riders, Vermithor and Silverwing were mates and coiled together

Queen Alysanne died in 100AC (a year before the first scene of House of the Dragon season 1, which begins at the Great Council of 101 AC), and King Jaehaerys died three years later. No one has claimed Vermithor nor Silverwing since, meaning they lived riderless on Dragonstone for around 30 years, until the Dance of the Dragons meant they needed to be called into action.

Who Rides Silverwing & Vermithor In House Of The Dragon

Their Riders Are Not Highborn Targaryens

The riders of the two dragons are quite unlikely: Ulf the White rides Silverwing, and Hugh Hammer rides Vermithor. Ulf was first introduced in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2, where he claimed to be the bastard son of Baelon Targaryen, and thus the half-brother of Viserys and Daemon. Hugh, meanwhile, debuted in the season 2 premiere, as a smith working in King’s Landing, and became a prominent part of the smallfolk story there.

There’s no record that Ulf is actually who he claims, but both are dragonseeds – that is, people with traces of Valyrian blood, which is believed to be enough to mean they can ride dragons. Rhaenyra and Jacaerys invited several of these potential dragonseeds to claim the unbonded dragons, with many being killed or injured in the process, but Ulf and Hugh were both able to succeed.

It is noted that Lord Gormon Massey tried to claim Vermithor, and the Bronze Fury burned him. Silverwing, whose personality is notably calmer and less vicious than her mate, is not said to have killed anyone, although the court fool Mushroom does claim to have tried to bond with her and been burned in the process.

How Big & Powerful Are Silverwing & Vermithor Compared To Vhagar?

Could They Beat The Biggest Dragon Alive?

Regardless of the people who failed, it is Ulf and Hugh who ride Silverwing and Vermithor in the Dance of the Dragons. They are a huge boon to the power of Rhaenyra’s Team Black, giving them two large, powerful dragons. But just how big and powerful are they? After all, what really matters if being able to beat Vhagar, so can either of them do that?

Silverwing is a large dragon, bigger than the best Team Black has had to offer so far, such as Caraxes and Meleys, albeit more docile in nature, less battle-tested, and likely not as quick and agile (certainly compared to Meraxes, who used that to her advantage against Vhagar). Vermithor is larger still, and comes second only to Vhagar in size in terms of dragons that are claimed. He is more ferocious and has a lot of brawn, but again, doesn’t have the same experience Vhagar does.

If Silverwing and Vermithor teamed up against Vhagar, they’d have a good chance of defeating her. One on one, however, while Vermithor vs. Vhagar could be a close fight, it’s unlikely either dragon would get the job done given Vhagar’s much greater combat experience (Vermithor’s most notable experience is the Fourth Dornish War, which mostly involved burning ships from above). Nonetheless, they are two major assets in House of the Dragon.

What Happens To Silverwing & Vermithor In House Of The Dragons

The Two Have A Significant & Surprising Role In The Book

Silverwing and Vermithor’s first taste of action in the Dance of the Dragons comes in the Battle of the Gullet, which will likely occur in House of the Dragon season 3. This is a battle where the Triarchy, allied with Otto Hightower, attempts to smash Corlys Velaryon’s blockade of the Gullet, with some 90 warships sent to do so. Eventually, almost the full strength of Team Black’s dragons are sent, including Silverwing, Vermithor, Seasmoke, and Sheepstealer, turning the battle in their favor.

It’s not all good news for the Blacks, however, as Ulf and Hugh do later betray Rhaenyra at the First Battle of Tumbleton, likely because of their own greed. They switch allegiance and join the Greens, causing Team Black to lose that particular battle. Vermithor eventually dies in the Second Battle of Tumbleton, but Silverwing is one of the few dragons to survive the Dance of the Dragons, which will presumably be the case in House of the Dragon too.

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.