Chapter Summaries

Aemon won the tourney, was knighted by Viserys with Blackfyre, and received the title Prince of River Valley Town. Later, Viserys questioned him about dragons and the Iron Throne, then proposed that he become engaged to Rhaenyra and marry her as King Consort.

• Viserys knighted thirteen-year-old Aemon with Blackfyre and granted him the title Prince of River Valley Town.
• Aemon refused to take Blackfyre, affirmed his loyalty to Viserys as both uncle and king, and embraced him as the dragons celebrated.
• At the banquet, Alicent congratulated Aemon affectionately, and he joined Laena and Rhaenyra, reassuring Rhaenyra that her thoughts mattered to him.
• Viserys summoned Aemon to the Tomb Cellar, where Aemon said dragons represented the Targaryen family and maintained that he would marry both Rhaenyra and Laena.
• Viserys proposed that Aemon become engaged to Rhaenyra and marry her as King Consort.

Aemon secured Viserys’s tacit approval to marry Rhaenyra while also pursuing Laena, then considered how to expand his power and strengthen his political allies. Laena confronted him over Rhaenyra, and when Rhaenyra arrived, Aemon welcomed her into the room.

• Viserys confronted Aemon with an armed ambush, and Aemon promised to marry Rhaenyra and protect her, earning Viserys’s tacit acceptance of his taking multiple wives.
• After leaving the Tomb Cellar, Aemon assessed his dragons, troops, and political rivals, then suspected Grand Maester Mellos of informing on Rhaenyra.
• Aemon noticed Jenny Arryn watching him and worrying that River Valley Town threatened the Vale and The Eyrie.
• Laena found Aemon pretending to be drunk and questioned him about marrying Rhaenyra; he confessed that he could not marry only her, and she reluctantly comforted him.
• Rhaenyra arrived while Aemon embraced Laena, and Aemon told her she had come at exactly the right time.

Aemon reassured Laena and Rhaenyra before Queen Alicent summoned him to spend time with her children. Meanwhile, Viserys rejected Corlys’s marriage plans and defended Aemon’s place in the royal family; Alicent then told Aemon that Larys had tried to manipulate his marriage to Laena.

• Aemon comforted Laena and Rhaenyra after they confronted him about his relationship with both of them.
• Lorent Marbrand summoned Aemon to Queen Alicent, while Viserys and Corlys argued over Aemon’s marriage and Corlys’s proposed alliance between their families.
• Viserys rebuked Corlys, rejected his proposal, and warned him that the Velaryons would not control the royal family’s dragons or marriages.
• Aemon held Helena, who spoke a cryptic phrase about wheat sprouting from ashes, and urged Alicent to listen more closely to her daughter’s strange remarks.
• Alicent revealed that Larys had suggested a plan to help Aemon marry Laena, and Aemon grew wary of the people influencing the Queen.

Aemon tried to manage tensions among Laena and Rhaenyra, then cornered Larys for intelligence and advice. Larys revealed Daemon’s alliance with the Rogare Family in the Stepstones, and Aemon asked how to win the Vale’s nobles.

• Aemon left Alicent, teased Laenor with a green explorer’s hat, and found Laena and Rhaenyra awkwardly alone together in his bedchamber.
• Laena reconciled with Rhaenyra by discussing their shared position and offering to teach her about her relationship with Aemon, but Aemon interrupted them.
• Aemon took back the hat from Laenor and later confronted Larys on a high corridor, threatening him into sharing useful intelligence.
• Larys told Aemon that Daemon had received money and craftsmen from the Rogare Family to build defenses in the Stepstones amid the Three Daughters Kingdom’s internal conflict.
• Aemon considered Daemon a threat and asked Larys how to secure the loyalty of the Vale’s nobles.

Aemon questioned Larys about conquering the Vale, Sea Snake Corlys, and the court’s rival factions, then studied the growth of his bloodline purity and used the Magic Essence Panel to acquire three artifacts. He planned to give his uncle the healing jade ring, feed Vermithor the Bloodsource Fruit, and begin his undertaking in the Vale.

• Aemon asked Larys how to take control of the Vale, and Larys advised him to wait for an opening and win over selected nobles while others made the first move.
• Larys told Aemon that Corlys was unlikely to attack the royal family and that he supported Aemon serving as Regent to assist Rhaenyra, aligning himself with the Black Party.
• Aemon examined his bloodline panel and theorized that purity thresholds affected hatching dragon eggs, approaching dragons, bonding with them, and accessing magic.
• Aemon spent essence to obtain a Bloodsource Fruit, Rhoynar's Jade Ring, and Pyromancer's Stone Sculpture, then fed the fruit to the Gold-Nosed Rat.
• Aemon discovered that the jade ring could purify water and heal external injuries, while the sculpture measured bloodline purity, and he prepared to deliver the ring to his uncle before returning to River Valley Town.

Aemon continued studying ancient runes at Runestone while tensions over his relationships and River Valley Town’s growing influence shaped his family’s plans. Viserys ordered Aemon and Rhaenyra to attend Lady Jeyne Arryn’s Name Day celebration, and Aemon learned that Corlys was pushing Laenor to court Jeyne as well.

• Aemon found more ancient runes at Runestone, advanced his Runology skill, and saw that Vermithor had grown stronger after eating a Bloodsource Fruit.
• Lady Rhea went hunting and left Runestone in Aemon’s care, while Laena said she wanted to return with him to River Valley Town.
• Viserys heard that Daemon and Corlys were gathering forces in the Stepstones, then ordered Rhaenyra and Aemon to attend Lady Jeyne’s Name Day celebration.
• Laena received Jeyne’s invitation for Lady Rhea, and Aemon read Laenor’s letter saying Corlys and Rhaenys were pressuring him to marry Jeyne.

Aemon traveled with his family to The Eyrie after receiving an invitation from Jeyne Arryn, while considering how to use his subjects’ faith to strengthen the Bronze Godwood. The chapter ended as the Vale nobles fell silent and stared at Aemon with open hostility.

• Aemon found that the Bronze Godwood had grown a second mature Bronze Bell and reasoned that bronze faith could help it produce more magical materials.
• Laenor, Joffrey, Rhaenyra, and their dragons arrived in River Valley City, where Rhaenyra reunited with Laena and Aemon’s family prepared to visit The Eyrie.
• Aemon flew toward The Eyrie on Vermithor, while Vhagar followed and Syrax and Seasmoke joined the procession; the dragons astonished the knights at Blood Gate.
• Aemon and his companions landed in The Eyrie’s cramped rear garden, where Vermithor scorched the flowers before taking off again.
• Jeyne Arryn welcomed Aemon and his companions, then led them to Maiden’s Tower as Aemon’s mother approached the mountain.
• More than a hundred Vale nobles fell silent when Aemon entered the hall and looked at him with scrutiny and hostility.

Aemon intimidated the Vale nobles at the Eyrie by attacking Earl Orion Corbray and revealing Vermithor, then considered House Waxley a potential ally. The next day, he spent time with his family at Alyssa's Tears and reached out to Laenor, who agreed to visit the Vale more often.

• Aemon insulted the Vale nobles and slammed Orion Corbray's head against a table when Orion challenged him.
• Aemon summoned Vermithor, whose appearance terrified the hall and silenced the nobles.
• Aemon took a seat at the Waxley family table, while Jenny struggled to regain control of the gathering.
• Lady Rhea arrived with Gonsal, Horton, and the others, and Jansiff warmly greeted her before Jenny withdrew upstairs.
• The next day, Aemon joined Laena, Rhaenyra, Laenor, and Jansiff at Alyssa's Tears, then invited Laenor to visit the Vale more often.
• Laenor agreed to spend more time with Aemon and the others.

Lady Rhea and Jenny clashed over the Vale’s future, while Aemon discovered that the wild dragon Sheep Thief had been roaming the region. He deliberately accused Jenny of concealing the dragon, leaving their relationship strained as the dinner ended without reconciliation.

• Lady Rhea confronted Jenny’s indirect questions, and the two discussed the Vale’s coming troubles and their unhappy experiences with family.
• Aemon found a vast stretch of scorched grassland and dead sheep, then concluded that the wild dragon Sheep Thief had entered the Vale.
• Jenny prepared to stand firm as Duchess of the Eyrie, but Aemon barged into the Maiden’s Tower and accused her of hiding the dragon’s presence.
• Jenny admitted her maesters had suspected the dragon was ranging farther afield, but she and Aemon argued over whether she should have reported it.
• Jansiff interrupted the confrontation, and Jenny left the dinner in anger while Lady Rhea urged Jansiff to accompany her.
• Aemon sat down with Lady Rhea, Laena, and Rhaenyra, then noticed Jansiff’s lingering feelings and faced the women’s suspicious looks.

At the Eyrie’s Name Day feast, Aemon and the others navigated tense Vale politics while Jeyne faced pressure to choose a husband. The celebration erupted into violence when Earl Orion Corbray attacked Joffrey, leaving Aemon worried that the situation would worsen.

• Jenny questioned Jansiff about her connection to River Valley Town, then warned her not to arrange rooms to provoke trouble.
• Aemon left Laena’s room and turned away Jansiff’s advances, while Jansiff wore the Dragon Bone Whistle he had given her.
• Aemon studied the runes, Bronze Bells, and broken horn, and Rhaenyra warned him that Jenny might be plotting against him.
• The Vale nobles gathered for Jeyne’s Name Day feast, where Orion Corbray presented her with an extravagant pearl necklace and displayed his interest in her.
• Jeyne told Laena and Rhaenyra that she had no suitable suitors, then asked what it was like to share a bed with a man.
• Orion pinned Joffrey down and beat him, while Laenor tried to stop the attack and Aemon sensed trouble ahead.

After Joffrey was accused of forcibly kissing Martha Corbray, Earl Orion rejected an apology and demanded justice, prompting Laenor to call for a trial by combat. Aemon faced Kohn Corbray, who wielded House Corbray’s Valyrian Steel sword, Lady Forlorn, and the fight began with River Valley Town wagered as the prize.

• Orion accused the unconscious Joffrey of molesting Martha, and Jeyne ordered Joffrey temporarily imprisoned while the matter was judged.
• Aemon and Laena offered an apology and atonement, but Orion refused and demanded that Joffrey be handed over.
• After Jeyne proposed letting the Seven decide, Laenor demanded a trial by combat, and Kohn volunteered to fight for Orion.
• Aemon agreed to champion Laenor and challenged Orion to wager River Valley Town, which Orion accepted.
• Before the fight, Kohn revealed that Martha wanted only a solemn apology, while Aemon offered her a place as Rhaenyra’s companion and began the duel with his Rune Greatsword against Lady Forlorn.

Aemon defeated Ke En in the trial by combat, claimed Lady Forlorn, and secured Orion’s surrender, proving Joffrey innocent. With Vermithor’s dramatic arrival and both Valyrian Steel swords at his side, Aemon turned his attention to Joffrey.

• Ke En’s Lady Forlorn damaged Aemon’s Rune Greatsword, but Aemon disarmed Ke En and wounded him with Dragon Tooth and Dragon Claw.
• Lady Rhea provided Aemon with Lament, and he used the Valyrian Steel sword to overpower Ke En and take Lady Forlorn.
• Vermithor arrived at the Eyrie and frightened the Vale nobles before obeying Aemon’s order to settle down.
• As Aemon prepared to kill Ke En, Orion conceded the trial, and Lady Jeyne declared Joffrey innocent.
• Aemon spared Ke En, urged him to join his future tourney at River Valley Town, and approached Joffrey with a cold gaze.

Aemon punished Joffrey for molesting Martha, earned his mother’s approval and the Royce family sword, then fed a Bloodsource Fruit to Vhagar. His bloodline rose to 53%, but Vermithor’s dragonfire triggered a dangerous reaction as Aemon tried to endure it.

• Aemon beat Joffrey, cut out half his tongue, and offered Martha a place as Rhaenyra’s companion after the Name Day celebration.
• Rhea praised Aemon’s handling of the incident and returned the Royce family sword, Lament, to him.
• After leaving the Vale, Aemon fed a Bloodsource Fruit to Vhagar, who regained her strength and allowed him to touch her.
• Aemon absorbed magic from Vhagar and Seasmoke, raising his bloodline purity to 53% and his Magic Essence to 2920.
• Vermithor breathed dragonfire, causing Aemon’s heart to race and his body to overheat as he struggled to withstand the reaction.

After Aemon discovered the Burning Rune, he returned to River Valley Town and planned to bring the Vale’s nobles under his control. Viserys learned of Aemon’s growing influence and considered bringing Otto Hightower back to counterbalance him, though the emerald ring Aemon had given him softened his anger.

• Aemon awakened enhanced senses and mental power, discovered the Burning Rune, and returned to River Valley Town with Laena, Rhaenyra, and Laenor.
• Aemon planned a campaign to bring the Vale’s nobles south of the Moon Mountains under his control and called on them to declare allegiance before a tourney in three months.
• Aemon began repairing a damaged horn and forging equipment in the palace forge while Johanna watched him briefly.
• Grand Maester Mellos told Viserys about Aemon’s actions, his allies, and the Two-Part Banners raised across the Vale.
• Viserys worried that Aemon’s growing power threatened the royal balance and considered recalling Otto Hightower to counter him.
• Viserys dismissed Mellos and found comfort in the emerald thumb ring Aemon had given him.

Aemon tested a repaired War Horn that awakened dragons and drew Rhaenys and Meleys to River Valley Town. As the Stepstones conflict pulled Laenor away, Aemon began his move against the Vale and arrived at Candlehearth Hall to confront Count Carmon.

• Aemon blew the repaired War Horn, rousing dragons across the region, including the wild Sheep Thief.
• Rhaenys arrived on Meleys and reported that Corlys and Daemon had joined forces against Tyrosh and Myr; Laenor left to join the fighting.
• Aemon soothed Meleys while she ate, gained Burning Fire Magic and increased his bloodline purity, then assigned Laena to lead knights toward Old Anchor.
• Aemon rode Vermithor to Candlehearth Hall, where he confronted Count Carmon during his family’s dinner.

Laena forced Earl Yilan Morko to submit by having Vhagar burn Stone Anchor City’s defenders, while Rhaenys helped Rhaenyra reconsider how to handle her political rivals. Aemon’s campaign gained Gulltown’s allegiance, and he planned to use the growing support to draw more of the Vale’s nobles to his side.

• Laena confronted Earl Yilan Morko in Stone Anchor City, and Vhagar burned the defenders on the walls until Earl Yilan knelt.
• Rhaenys brought Rhaenyra food and advised her to turn potential rivals into allies; Rhaenyra began considering reconciliation with Alicent and others.
• Aemon and Laena returned to Vale City as Candlehearth Hall and Old Anchor swore allegiance to Aemon Targaryen, leaving Gulltown as the last target.
• At Graffson Castle, Earl Buckin had Earl Blake Shett seized after a cellist performed “Rainy Season in Kasrome,” recalling House Waynwood’s earlier fate.
• Gulltown raised Aemon’s Two-Part Banner, and Earl Buckin hurried to River Valley Town with his children.
• Aemon told Johanna to publicize the Vale houses’ allegiance and invite Lady Jeyne to the River Valley Town tourney.

As Aemon consolidated control over much of the Vale, Viserys’s Small Council debated how to respond while news arrived that Daemon and the Sea Snake had taken the Stepstones and Dorne had joined the conflict. Otto Hightower returned to the Red Keep and urged Viserys to decide Aemon’s fate, but their discussion ended when Aemon and Rhaenyra arrived.

• Rumors in King's Landing focused on Aemon and Lady Jeyne, while Viserys’s council called for Aemon to return and answer for his actions in the Vale.
• Viserys ordered Rhaenyra and Aemon summoned to King's Landing, then learned Daemon and the Sea Snake had captured the Stepstones and Dorne had entered the war.
• Rhaenyra told Aemon that Mysaria had spread rumors to distract the people from his takeover, and Aemon explained how his supporters had divided the Vale between the Eyrie and River Valley Town.
• After half a month, Viserys welcomed Otto Hightower, who advised him to rebuke Aemon or revoke the Eyrie’s office as Warden of the East.
• Harold interrupted Otto and Viserys to announce that Rhaenyra and Aemon had returned.

Aemon returned to King's Landing, tended Viserys's wounds, and argued that he should become Prince of the Vale. At the Small Council meeting, Rhaenyra gained a seat, the council chose not to aid Daemon and the Sea Snake in the Stepstones, and Cole summoned the royal party to see Alicent.

• Aemon and Rhaenyra returned to the Red Keep, where Viserys angrily confronted Aemon and sent Rhaenyra away.
• Aemon examined Viserys's injuries, advised him to stop taking Poppy Milk, and treated his wounds.
• Aemon asked to become Prince of the Vale and argued that the Targaryens needed to expand their presence beyond King's Landing; Viserys dismissed him and summoned him to the Small Council meeting.
• Viserys dismissed Jasper and restored Otto as Master of Laws, then Aemon secured Rhaenyra a seat on the Small Council.
• The Small Council decided to let Daemon and the Sea Snake fight in the Stepstones without royal aid, while Aemon watched from the sidelines.
• Cole told Viserys that Alicent wished to see him, and Aemon joked to Rhaenyra, “Long live the Green Party!”

Viserys welcomed his newborn son Daeron, while Rhaenyra began getting acquainted with her younger half-siblings and stopped Aegon from bullying Aemond and Helena. Aemon used his panel to obtain a nightlight and a giant red rabbit, then brought the rabbit back to the family, catching Rhaenyra and Helena’s attention.

• Viserys introduced his newborn son Daeron to Otto, Alicent, Aemon, and Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra took the baby for a walk.
• Rhaenyra found Aegon pinning Aemond down, ordered Cole to separate them, and learned that Aemond had fought Aegon for mocking Helena.
• Rhaenyra told Aegon not to mock Helena again, comforted Aemond, and listened as Helena muttered about green and black spools.
• Aemon summoned his Magic Essence Panel and bought Bronze Armor, Pyromancer's Nightlight, and Red Hare, a giant red rabbit.
• Aemon returned with Red Hare and found Rhaenyra holding Daeron while Helena stared at the rabbit with delight.

Aemon took his family to the Dragonpit, where Viserys rode Vermithor and Rhaenyra brought her younger brothers up close to dragons. Meanwhile, Daemon and Corlys faced a worsening siege in the Stepstones as Myr, Tyrosh, and Dorne joined forces against them.

• Helena clung to Red Hare while Aemon teased her and turned his thoughts to the coming River Valley Town tourney and the war he expected Daemon and Corlys to start.
• Viserys, Aemon, Rhaenyra, and the children visited the Dragonpit, where Aemon and Rhaenyra helped Viserys and the children mount Vermithor and Syrax.
• Aemon suggested that Viserys claim Dreamfyre, but Viserys declined and said he would leave her to the children.
• Laenor returned exhausted to Dragon Blood Fort after using Seasmoke against the attackers besieging Bloodstone Island.
• Daemon arrived at the fort, where Corlys and Vaemond explained that Myr, Tyrosh, and Dorne had joined the war and cut off their supplies.
• Corlys urged the defenders to hold the Stepstones, while Daemon silently weighed his options.