The first episode of “House of the Dragon’s” first season featured Aegon the Conqueror’s dream about the White Walkers, which may be related to an old Game of Thrones mystery. “House of the Dragon” presented Aegon’s dream of White Walkers and Winter, which he termed A Song of Ice and Fire, despite the prequel being entirely isolated from its parent program and taking place approximately 200 years later. It was a significant revelation that changed the context of both what was seen in Game of Thrones season 8 and events from the larger ASOIAF lore, raising the stakes for Viserys and Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Since it alters their destiny, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are the ones who will be most affected by Aegon’s A Song of Ice and Fire dream. In addition to offering fresh context for Daenerys’ ambition for the Iron Throne given Aegon’s belief that only a Targaryen could sit upon it and fight the White Walkers, it also lends Jon’s Targaryen heritage a deeper meaning by implying a broader meaning that Game of Thrones never revealed. But the effects might extend beyond those two; was this the reason Rhaegar was so worried about the prophecy of the Prince That Was Promised? The White Walkers: Did the Mad King know about them?
Aegon’s prophecy has exposed many unresolved issues, but it may also shed light on some mysteries. The Tragedy of Summerhall is one of the most significant and enduring mysteries in Game of Thrones legend. The incident occurred in a Targaryen castle, where a large fire killed several people, including King Aegon V Targaryen and Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of his Kingsguard. The fire appeared to be related to attempts to hatch a dragon egg. Aegon’s dream might at least help to explain part of it: that Aegon V was so driven to hatch an egg by any means possible because he knew of the White Walkers. While the exact cause of such a devastating fire is unknown, it is believed that pyromancy, some kind of sorcery, and/or blood magic was involved.
Was Aegon’s Dream the Source of The Tragic Events At Summerhall?
The Aegon twist in “House of the Dragon“ might assist pinpoint the precise reason why he became so fixated with hatching a dragon in his later years, even though it would not provide an explanation for the cause. His idea that it was the only way to impose total control over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros following the most recent Blackfyre Rebellion had led to it becoming his reign’s aim. However, it would make more sense for him to go to such great efforts to develop a plan if he knew there was a Winter on the horizon that would bring vast darkness over Westeros and that time was running out for him to have a solution. A dragon would make an excellent weapon in that battle as well if a member of the Targaryen family is required to defeat the impending Great Winter.
Curiously, the Tragedy of Summerhall was attended by a woods witch, thought to be the Ghost of High Heart, who is renowned for having accurate dreams and visions. This could further connect the event to the idea of dreams and suggest that it had a deeper significance than Aegon V’s attempts to honor his family or restore the Targaryen dynasty to its full power. Rhaegar Targaryen was also born during the Tragedy of Summerhall, and as an adult, he frequently visited the location.
Could the Prince That Was Promised prophecy and Aegon’s dream from A Song of Ice and Fire be connected since Rhaegar was aware of both? Rhaegar may have believed that he (and eventually his son) was the impending savior if prophecy around Summerhall had also been interwoven with the discourse of the Prince That Was Promised. Though Aegon’s dream opens up a lot of possibilities for Game of Thrones’ past, “House of the Dragon” may not entirely tie those threads together.