Chapter Summaries

Aegon left Myr aboard Sunfyre and destroyed a fleet of Ironborn ships led by Ram Greyjoy in the Stepstones. Back in Myr, Johanna and Helena learned that Aemond and the Second Sons had defeated a Tyroshi mercenary company and driven it out of Myrish territory.

• Aemon sent Aegon off with Kohn Corbray and an escort, while Aemond and Helena came to see him depart.
• Aegon mounted Sunfyre and sailed out from Myr Bay as Aemon watched; Gaemon admired the departing dragon.
• Patrolling the Stepstones, Aegon spotted House Greyjoy's fleet and ordered Sunfyre to attack.
• Ram Greyjoy fired a scorpion bolt at Sunfyre, but the dragon dodged it and burned Ram and most of the Ironborn fleet.
• In Myr's council hall, Dai Anna and Grey Worm told Johanna that Aemond and the Second Sons had defeated a Tyroshi mercenary company and pursued it out of Myrish territory.

Aemond confronted Vaemond when the Velaryon army blocked the Second Sons, and Helena arrived on Dreamfyre to destroy the Tyroshi mercenaries. Aemon then forced Corlys to pull Vaemond back, before announcing that he and the children would return to Westeros and vacation in the Vale.

• Aemond joined Robb in facing Vaemond, who claimed the land near Long Lake Town for the Velaryons and demanded that the Second Sons withdraw.
• Aemond threatened Vaemond with the Second Sons, and the two prepared to fight until Helena arrived on Dreamfyre and burned the Tyroshi mercenaries.
• Helena told Aemond to leave, and Vaemond retreated with his troops after seeing the dragonrider.
• Aemon confronted Corlys in Tyrosh and ordered him to withdraw Vaemond from the lands near Long Lake Town.
• Corlys discussed the blockade and Dorne's position with Laenor after Aemon departed for Myr.
• Aemon told Aegon, Aemond, and their sister to pack for their return to Westeros and a vacation in the Vale.

Aemon and the royal children returned to King's Landing, where Viserys praised their deeds and sought advice about their marriage prospects. The children later traveled to the Vale, where Aemond spotted an unfamiliar dragon flying toward Lonely Mountain.

• Aemon and the royal children returned to the Red Keep, and Viserys welcomed them and praised Aegon, Aemond, and Helena for their actions in battle.
• Aegon boasted to the ministers about his supposed victory over a Greyjoy fleet, while Tyland eagerly applauded him.
• Aemon proposed returning to the Vale, and the royal children departed King's Landing on their dragons after Viserys assigned Daeron to ride with Aegon.
• Viserys asked the Cargyll brothers and Otto about the princes' romantic interests, learned that Aemond was close to Helena and Aegon frequented brothels, and reconsidered his plans for their marriages.
• In River Valley Land, Aegon and Aemond talked about dragons and Highgarden while the children played, and Aemond spotted an unfamiliar muddy-brown dragon flying toward Lonely Mountain.

Aemon and Rhaenyra discussed Viserys’s request to find a successor for the aging Grand Maester and suspected the Citadel was maneuvering against them. The discussion ended with news that Aemond had pursued a Wild Dragon.

• Rhaenyra asked Maester Munkun about her health and chances of conceiving, but he found no problem and advised patience.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra considered Maester Munkun, Archmaester Gladius, and Maester Alford as candidates, then concluded Viserys’s request could become a conflict between them and Alicent.
• Aemon recounted his past confrontation with the Faith and the Citadel in Oldtown and suspected the Citadel was retaliating.
• Rhaenyra proposed riding Syrax to Oldtown, but Aemon stopped her and doubted that Grand Maester Mellos was truly near death.
• A maid reported that Aemond had chased after a Wild Dragon.

Aemond chased the wild dragon Sheep Thief across River Valley Land, but his exhausting pursuit brought him back to River Valley Town and left him scrambling for food. He later sneaked into Dragon Valley and located Sheep Thief’s lair in Smoking Cave, setting up another attempt to tame it.

• Aemond pursued Sheep Thief without food or water, collapsed with stomach trouble, and encountered hunters from River Valley Town.
• The old hunter warned Aemond that Sheep Thief had once burned shepherds and sheepdogs, and explained that Aemon and Lady Laena had driven it from the Vale.
• Sheep Thief flew overhead, and Aemond disappeared while the hunters took cover.
• Aemond returned to River Valley Town, stole candied hawthorn and cotton candy from Jaehaerys, Baela, and Rhea, then escaped the guards.
• Aemond crossed the mountains into Dragon Valley and watched Sheep Thief enter Smoking Cave.

Aemond searched Dragon Valley for Sheep Thief, accidentally awakened the missing Caraxes, and found the Wild Dragon guarding a hoard of stolen treasures. After Sheep Thief fought Sunfyre and fled from Grey Shadow’s attack, Aemond pursued it while Aemon entered a cave where a dragon egg began to hatch.

• Aemond entered the wrong Smoking Cave, where Caraxes emerged from the lava and flew away; Aemon recognized the dragon and realized it had survived.
• Aemond found Sheep Thief with a hoard of loot, including two dragon eggs, just as Sunfyre attacked and destroyed some of its treasure.
• Sheep Thief fought Sunfyre and gained the upper hand until Grey Shadow struck it with dragonfire, giving Sunfyre a chance to escape.
• Aemon’s roar prompted Sheep Thief to flee Dragon Valley, and Aemond rushed after it while Aemon went into a cave to investigate.
• Aemon reached a dragon-egg hatching chamber, where a black egg began to crack.

Aemon survived a volcanic eruption with the newly hatched dragon Blackfyre and named it, while Aemond tamed the wild dragon Sheep Thief. Aemond returned to Vale City triumphant, where he fought with Aegon until guards pulled them apart.

• Aemon escaped the magma pool’s eruption, discovered that the Black Dragon Egg had hatched, and named the newborn dragon Blackfyre.
• Aemond pursued Sheep Thief, calmed the wild dragon, and flew away on its back after taming it.
• Aemon learned that Aemond had injured Jaehaerys and stolen the children’s snacks, then found Aegon blaming him for Sunfyre’s injuries.
• Aemon introduced Blackfyre to Rhaenyra, Laena, and the children at Summerhall.
• Aemond arrived on Sheep Thief and taunted Aegon about Sunfyre, then threw Aegon to the ground when he attacked.
• Aegon tried to attack Aemond again, but armed guards separated the brothers.

Aemond gained a dragon and fought with Aegon, while Aemon considered the threats facing the Targaryen family and looked for a way to break the kingdom’s stability. He dismissed several possible targets for expansion and ended the chapter alone with Rhaenyra, who suspected he was planning trouble.

• Aemon had the guards restrain Aegon and Aemond after their fight, and Rhaenyra checked their injuries while Aemond proudly announced that he had a dragon.
• Rhaenyra planned to tell Viserys about Aemond’s achievement as the family discussed marriage troubles and other pressures facing the royal family.
• Aemon reflected on the Dance of the Dragons and concluded that the Targaryens needed to guard against schemes aimed at weakening them.
• Aemon considered intervening in the North and expanding elsewhere, but rejected each option and lamented that even starting a war was difficult.
• Rhaenyra questioned Aemon about his suspicious thoughts, then grabbed him by the collar and invited him inside.

After returning to King's Landing, Aemon watched Viserys reconcile with Aemond and the Black and Green Parties clash over the next Grand Maester. The council chose no candidate, and Aemon left for the Dragonpit, where the children trained their young dragons.

• Viserys welcomed Aemon and the children home, praised Aemond for taming the Wild Dragon, and reprimanded Aegon for shoving his brother.
• Viserys called a Small Council to discuss replacing the bedridden Grand Maester Mellos, and Lyonel suggested asking the Citadel for candidates.
• Tyland recommended Archmaester Gladius, Alicent objected to his age, and Rhaenyra challenged Alicent's place on the council.
• Otto proposed Maester Alford, but Aemon calmed Rhaenyra, and the council ended without agreement on a replacement.
• Aemon went to the Dragonpit and watched Jaehaerys, Baela, and Rhea train Sunny Day, Moon Dance, and Dawn.

Jaehaerys found a scale shed by Sunny Day, while Otto pushed Alicent to support Aegon’s claim to the Iron Throne until Helena’s prediction of Aegon on a wooden throne provoked a quarrel. At an emergency Small Council meeting, the court learned of Braavos and Volantis’ hostile moves and Prince Qoren Martell’s marriage invitation, which Otto linked to Prince Aemond.

• Jaehaerys showed Aemon a warm green scale that had fallen from Sunny Day, and Aemon noticed a missing raised scale along the hatchling’s spine.
• Otto urged Alicent to help make Aegon heir, but Alicent rejected his plan and grew angry when he treated Helena’s prediction of Aegon sitting on a wooden throne as proof of his future kingship.
• Ser Lorent summoned Aemon and Rhaenyra to an emergency Small Council meeting, where Viserys teased them for arriving late and looking exhausted.
• Otto read the Sea Snake’s report that the Ironborn fleet had received supplies in Braavos, Volantis and Dorne had allied, and Prince Qoren Martell had invited the King to discuss a marriage alliance.
• Viserys questioned Prince Qoren’s sudden interest in a marriage alliance, and Otto said it was because of Prince Aemond.

Viserys’s council debated marriage arrangements for Aegon, Helena, and Aemond, with Otto pushing traditional Targaryen matches and an alliance with Dorne. Viserys adjourned the meeting and decided to ask his children what they wanted, while Otto stopped Aemon as he left.

• Otto urged Viserys to arrange the princes’ and princesses’ marriages, but Viserys hesitated and dismissed Lyman Beesbury’s offer of his granddaughter.
• Tyland and Ser Harrold recommended Westerling candidates, and Viserys became interested in Johanna Westerling as a match for Aegon.
• Otto objected to Johanna and proposed that Aegon marry Helena while Aemond married the Dornish Princess to strengthen ties with Dorne.
• Aemon suggested asking the children what they wanted, and Alicent agreed with him.
• Viserys adjourned the meeting and left with Ser Harrold, angry at the attempt to dictate his children’s marriages.
• As Aemon left with Rhaenyra, Otto called after him and told him to wait.

Aemon beat Otto after Otto warned him not to interfere in the Green children's futures, then rushed to the Dragonpit when Aegon and Aemond's fight led Sunfyre and Sheep Thief to battle. Vermithor subdued both dragons, and Aemon reached the hall as the Dragonpit teetered near collapse.

• Otto privately warned Aemon not to interfere with Aegon and the other Green children, while Aegon and Aemond fought inside the Dragonpit.
• Aemon attacked Otto, striking him with a wooden chair and kicking him as Viserys and the Kingsguard tried to intervene.
• A Dragonkeeper reported that Aegon and Aemond were fighting and that Sunfyre and Sheep Thief had been released, so Aemon ran to the Dragonpit.
• Sunfyre and Sheep Thief fought savagely, damaging the Dragonpit and bringing down a pillar as the young dragons escaped their enclosures.
• Vermithor emerged and answered Aemon's command to cease fighting by driving Sunfyre away and pinning Sheep Thief to the ground.
• Aemon stepped over the rubble and approached the center of the hall while Vermithor held Sheep Thief down.

Aemon punished Aegon and Aemond after their reckless actions nearly destroyed the Dragonpit and endangered the dragons. Viserys ordered the Dragonpit evacuated and began reflecting on the failures of his court, while Aemon left after calling for a maester.

• Aemon knocked Aegon unconscious, freed him from the chains, and dragged him from the ruins as Blackfyre drove Sunfyre back with dragonfire.
• Aemon ordered Vhagar, Syrax, and Dreamfyre released and the hatchlings caged, while Viserys reprimanded the Dragonkeeper elder and ordered the Dragonpit cleared.
• Aemon broke Aegon's leg with a bamboo rod, then kicked Aemond after Aemond admitted he had acted deliberately.
• Rhaenyra shielded the injured Aemond and asked Aemon to stop; Aemon called for a maester and left the Dragonpit.
• Viserys sent for the maester and reflected on his court's failures, then remembered Aemon's beating of Otto.

After returning to King's Landing, Aemon attended the depleted Small Council and confronted the renewed divide between the Blacks and Greens. The council discussed its vacant offices and Aegon’s injuries before Viserys proposed finding him a bride from the Reach.

• Aemon returned to King's Landing after settling Sunfyre, Sheep Thief, and Blackfyre on Dragonstone, and Baron Caswell offered to serve him.
• Ser Harrold summoned Aemon to the Small Council, where he found only Viserys, Lyonel, and Ser Harrold present.
• Lyonel agreed to serve as Master of Laws while Otto recovered, and Viserys and Lyonel considered candidates to replace the bedridden Grand Maester Mellos.
• Aemon asked about Aegon and Aemond, and Viserys said their injuries were not fatal; Aemon revealed he had sent them ten sacks of Yellow Jade Wheat.
• Lyonel steered the council to Aegon's marriage, and Viserys proposed choosing his bride from the Reach.

Aemond questioned the delay in appointing a Grand Maester and learned that Aegon's marriage was being planned as an alliance with the Reach to protect the realm's southwest. The discussion ended with Lyonel revealing that Helena already had two marriage candidates, though Aegon had none.

• Lyonel explained that Mellos refused to resign as Grand Maester, and Viserys defended Mellos's service to the realm.
• Aemond asked whether Johanna of Claw Isle had been considered for Aegon, and Lyonel explained that Reach nobles were wealthier and more politically useful.
• Ser Harrold and Lyonel explained that the Dornish alliance had been shelved and that the realm needed Reach support against possible Dornish and Ironborn threats.
• Aemond reasoned that a marriage into the Reach would strengthen the royal family's position and help secure the Prince's Pass.
• Aemond challenged Viserys over sending Lyman to arrange a marriage without choosing a bride, and Lyonel revealed there were two candidates for Helena but none for Aegon.

Aemon opposed the proposed marriages of Helena to Thaddeus Rowan or Mond Hightower, especially condemning the age gap with Thaddeus. He left the Small Council warning Viserys that he would rebel if the royal family treated its women as bargaining pieces, suggesting the political dead time could end early.

• Lyonel told Aemon that Helena had two marriage candidates: Earl Thaddeus Rowan and Ser Mond Hightower.
• Aemon angrily rejected Thaddeus as a match because he was nearly Viserys's age and Helena would be marrying an old man.
• Viserys defended the marriage alliance, but Aemon challenged him by recalling Daenella Targaryen's unhappy marriage to the elderly Rodrik Arryn.
• Aemon opposed Thaddeus's match and said he already knew who had proposed Mond Hightower.
• Aemon left the Small Council and warned Viserys not to blame him if he rebelled, while Viserys watched a stone ball spin inside the tea table.

Aemon confronted Otto over his scheme to marry Helena to Mund Hightower and threatened to destroy House Hightower if he continued manipulating Alicent’s children. He then sought Alicent’s cooperation in choosing marriages for Aegon and Helena, leaving her asking what he wanted.

• Aemon entered Otto’s room, set fire to the Myrish carpet, and pressed Otto’s hand against his broken ribs while questioning him about Helena’s proposed marriage.
• Aemon accused Otto of recommending Mund Hightower for Helena and threatened to erase Oldtown Hightower if Otto kept pursuing political schemes.
• Aemon put out the fire and left Otto, who stared at the burned carpet and trembled.
• Aemon visited Alicent, Helena, and Aemond, but Alicent tried to turn him away because she felt ashamed and powerless after the recent violence.
• Aemon told Alicent the Small Council would choose marriage partners for Aegon and Helena, then asked whether she could bear to see Helena forced into an unhappy marriage.
• Alicent asked what Aemon wanted, and he said he needed her cooperation.

Alicent and Aemon aligned against marriage alliances for the royal children, while Otto persuaded Viserys to send Daeron to Oldtown at twelve. Viserys sent Aemon and Rhaenyra to inspect the Riverlands, where Aemon planned a mushroom-picking trip and considered bringing the Reach under Crownlands control.

• Alicent warned Aemon to protect Helena, and Aemond tried to imitate Aemon’s lap-and-grape routine with Helena but was swatted by Red Hare.
• Otto urged Viserys to arrange traditional marriages for Aegon and Helena, find Aemond a bride in Dorne or the Reach, and send Daeron to Oldtown; Viserys agreed to the plan for Daeron when he turned twelve.
• Alicent told Viserys that she favored letting the royal children choose their own partners, and she rejected a marriage between Aegon and Helena because Aegon would ruin Helena’s life.
• Viserys and Alicent discussed sending the children to tour the Reach, but Viserys decided to send Aemon away instead.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra received orders to inspect the rain-soaked Riverlands, and Aemon proposed taking their companions to Harrenhal to pick mushrooms.

Aemon took his family to Harrenhal while Viserys sent Aegon and Aemond to visit Reach nobles and arrange marriages. Helena secretly flew Dreamfyre to the Riverlands and arrived at Harrenhal, where Aemon and his party had just settled in.

• Aemon traveled from King's Landing toward Harrenhal with his wives and children, while Rhaenyra guessed Viserys had sent them away to arrange matches for Aegon and Helena.
• Viserys ordered Aegon and Aemond to fly to the Reach and visit its noble houses, beginning with Honeyholt.
• Helena sneaked to the Dragonpit, mounted Dreamfyre, and flew toward the Riverlands as Alicent watched her depart and wrote to Garwin Hightower.
• Aemon's party arrived at Harrenhal and met Simon Strong, who explained that dragonfire had recently scorched the top of the Burning King's Tower.
• Dreamfyre emerged from the tower and began clearing its dusty interior, and Jaehaerys realized that Helena had come too.

Aemon visited Harrenhal with Rhaenyra and Helena, then recruited Larys to help advance his plans for the Reach. Aegon and Aemond arrived at Oldtown Hightower, where Mond welcomed them and Lord Hobert waited inside.

• Aemon found Helena at Harrenhal and learned she had come because she wanted to stay near more of her family.
• Aemon joined the Strongs for a modest welcoming feast, where Harwin withdrew and Larys spoke with him.
• Aemon told Larys he wanted to strengthen royal control over the Reach, and Larys left for the region to guide Aegon and Aemond.
• Aemon planned to use the princes’ presence to strengthen Hightower and pressure Tyrell of Highgarden without conquering the Reach.
• Aegon and Aemond arrived at Oldtown on their dragons, and Mond Hightower welcomed them before they entered the Hightower and met Lord Hobert.