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Warning: Spoilers ahead through season two, episode five of "House of the Dragon" and the book "Fire and Blood."
"House of the Dragon" is keeping us on our toes in season two — and the premiere briefly introduced an important figure from George R.R. Martin's book "Fire and Blood." Now, a few episodes in, we're starting to learn a bit more about him.
In the season two premiere, Aegon II Targaryen hears petitions from the common folk. One of the petitioners is more important than the others: Hugh the blacksmith (Kieran Bew), who asks Aegon for an advance on the smiths' payment for weapons.
If you couldn't tell by the lingering, close-up shot of Hugh's face during his introduction, here's your PSA: You should remember his face. Assuming he's the same Hugh from "Fire and Blood," the book on which "House of the Dragon" is based, we'll see much more of him down the line.
In season two, episode two, Hugh and his wife converse at their home about the price of food as they tend to their sick daughter. Hugh assures his wife that Aegon has promised him an advance — but she's skeptical.
By episode five, the money hasn't come through. Aegon is badly injured after his clash with Rhaenys, Aemond, and their dragons Meleys and Vhagar, and his brother Aemond is ruling in his stead. With King's Landing falling into unrest, Hugh's wife urges him to leave for Tumbleton, where her brother resides. Hugh is reluctant, but the couple attempts to leave the city with their daughter.
Unfortunately, they fail, stalled by Aemond's order to close the city gates. But at the end of episode five, Rhaenyra's son Jacaerys has an idea to seek out others with Targaryen blood who could mount a dragon — and it's one that could potentially bring Hugh into the fold.
During the Dance of the Dragons, as recounted in "Fire and Blood," Jacaerys decides to recruit potential dragonriders from the breadth of Targaryen bastards. He puts out a call for recruits, promising rewards like knighthood, lands, and glory to those who are able to successfully mount a dragon.
Not everyone was able to do so. According to "Fire and Blood," Grand Maester Munkun (one historical source) recounted that 16 men died during the trials, while tens of them were injured. Hugh, a "blacksmith's bastard" with incredible physical strength, mounted the dragon Vermithor. Others also succeeded, mounting the dragons Silverwing, Seasmoke, and Sheepstealer.
That you do. "House of the Dragons" viewers encountered Vermithor in season one. The previous mount of King Jaehaerys, Viserys' predecessor, and was riderless after his death.
Daemon Targaryen very briefly encounters Vermithor in the season one finale when he seeks him out underneath Dragonstone. Singing a song in High Valyrian, Daemon doesn't seem to get very far with Vermithor — but he doesn't get burnt to a crisp, which is still a net win.
HBO
Vermithor isn't the biggest dragon that we've seen in "House of the Dragon" — that honor goes to Aemond's big, beautiful girl Vhagar — but he's still pretty big.
Now, if you want potential major spoilers for the show…
The fictional history of Westeros recounts how Hugh fought in the war as a dragonrider. In one battle, Rhaenyra's forces clashed with a naval fleet from the Triarchy, with whom Otto Hightower had engineered an alliance. During the battle, Hugh and Vermithor fought alongside the dragons Silverwing, Sheepstealer, Seasmoke, their riders, Jacaerys, and his dragon Vermax.
However, Hugh and Ulf White, Silverwing's rider, defected later in the war during the battle of Tumbleton, though their motivations were disputed in the historical record. Their betrayal caused the city to fall into the hands of Ormund Hightower's forces, accompanied by Prince Daeron Targaryen, as well as Hugh and Ulf themselves.
Hugh eventually demanded to sit on the Iron Throne himself, leading the lords under Daeron's command to conspire to kill him. However, Addam Velaryon, bonded to Laenor Velaryon's former dragon Seasmoke, attacked the town. During the subsequent second battle of Tumbleton, Hugh was killed.
"House of the Dragon" season two airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is streaming on Max.
