Black didn’t only lose one of their most capable combatants, Rhaenys, but also their most powerful dragon, Meleys. Hence, when Rhaenyra gets frustrated, realizing that they can’t stand against the Greens without dragons, Jace reminds her of the two most robust dragons living in the Dragonstone. He says, “We have no dearth of dragons; there are two who can stand against Vhagar, and they are called Vermithor and Silverwing.” Well, we are already familiar with Vermithor, but who is Silverwing in House of the Dragon? Let’s find out.
Who Is Silverwing in House of the Dragon
The silver she-dragon Silverwing is one of the ancient and largest dragons of House Targaryen. We can say that she can certainly be a tough opponent for the largest dragon in existence, Vhagar. In 36 AC, Rhaena, Queen Alysanne Targaryen’s sister, put a dragon in her cradle. Silverwing hatched from that egg and has bonded with Alyssane Targaryen since then.
Silverwing is often seen flying with Vermithor as the latter was Alysanne’s brother Jahaerys’s ride. The she-dragon, along with Vermithor, helped Alysanne, Jahaerys, and their mother to flee from Dragonstone following the death of the Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen. For the unacquainted, Visenya held the trio as hostages in the Dragonstone.
After Maegor the Cruel’s death, Jahaerys and Alysanne flew to the King’s Landing on Vermithor and Silverwing, respectively, so that Jahaerys could claim the Iron Throne. Later, sometime in 49 AC, Silverwing, along with Vermithor, took Alysanne and Jahaerys secretively to the Dragonstone so that they could get married. Since then, while Jahaerys looked after the significant dealings of the Targaryen empire, Alysanne handled the rest of the business with Silverwing by her side.
Ulf White Rides Silverwing During Dance of the Dragons
Following Alysanne Targaryen’s demise in 100 AC, Silverwing remained riderless for a long period until Jacaerys Targaryen decided to call out for men capable enough to claim the potent dragon.
Unlike the other masterless dragons of House Targaryen, Silverwing is said to be the most welcoming one. So, a dragonseed named Ulf White would tame her and take her to the Battle in the Gullet along with some other significant dragons, including Vermax, Sheepstealer, Seasmoke, and Vermithor.
Ulf White fought the initial battle for Rhaenyra, but he and a fellow dragonseed, Hugh Hammer, who tamed Vermithor, changed their minds during the first battle of Tumbleton and betrayed the Blacks. While Ulf stayed at the Tumbleton with Silverwing, the dragon remained unchained, which means she could fly at will even without a rider.
During the Second Battle of Tumbleton, while Ulf White and the other dragon riders were asleep, Tumbleton was attacked by an army of four thousand men headed by Addam Velaryon. Silverwing’s intelligence has to be acknowledged as she did not take part in the battle without Ulf White but kept an eye on the battlefield by circling around it for hours.
After the battle, when King Aegon II went missing, and his younger brothers Aemond and Daeron died, Ulf White showed interest in becoming the new king. However, the Caltrop, Ser Hobbert Hightower, brought him poisoned wine, which he drank, leaving Silverwing riderless again.
