The House of the Dragon season 2 has officially reached its midpoint. Episode four has itself hinted at the bloodshed that is in store for the coming episodes, with the show inching closer to the beginning of the first real war of the season. And now, with the fifth episode knocking on the door, fans are about to dive into one of the best parts of the lore. The biggest question that has been teased for episode 5 is whether Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen will get the most badass dragon, Vermithor, to spread its wings over Westeros.

This was teased through a new promo for the upcoming episode 5, and fans have since been trying to unravel the mystery behind the glimpse of Rhaenyra seemingly taming the Bronze Fury in the caves of Dragonstone.

It is no secret that Rhaenyra Targaryen needs to expand her dragon army if she wants to match the might of Aemond’s dragon, Vhagar. However, her chances of claiming the ever-unclaimed dragon since Jaehaerys I Targaryen’s death are very slim. The reason being, the second rider of Vermithor in the lore, after the king, Hugh Hammer, has already been introduced in the first episode of House of the Dragon season 2. And from the looks of it, Hammer is becoming a key player in the show’s storyline.

Going by the original texts, Rhaenyra Targaryen already has a dragon, Syrax, and she only rides her throughout the lore, not any other dragon. Considering that there are also many dragonless characters on the show, waiting for their moment in the sun, it cannot be said for sure if Rhaenyra would be the one to ride Vermithor, despite the speculations. However, there is one theory that offers a small glimmer of hope for this speculation.

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It is a connection between the House of the Dragon and its parent show, Game of Thrones, that brings out an interesting theory about the Targaryen's dragon history.

It has been laid out by the lore that Rhaenyra Targaryen has only ever ridden one dragon her entire life, Syrax. However, someone in her clan, her sixth great-granddaughter, Daenerys Targaryen, is known for claiming three dragons, even though she rode only one, Drogon. Nonetheless, many fans believe that Daenerys could have ridden Viserion and Rhaegal too, as they easily followed her lead.

This proves that in the Game of Thrones universe, a dragon chooses its rider, not the other way around. Considering that twisting the original sources in adaptations is no new trend- something even the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon mastermind has talked about- it is not entirely impossible for the showrunners to introduce a new twist to Rhaenyra Targaryen's arc. 

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What do you think about the House of the Dragon tease for Rhaenyra Targaryen and Vermithor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!