Aerea Targaryen: The Most Horrifying Tragedy in Game of Thrones History

This Halloween, let us experience the tragic horror of Princess Aerea Targaryen's death. The lonely girl on Dragonstone befriended dragons, but the biggest of them all, Balerion the Black Dread, became too wild for her to handle. The Princess and the Dread disappeared on a journey one night - where they went is still unknown, but Aerea returned home with quite a nasty fever...
Thumbnail Art:
Aerea Targaryen - Lily Abdullina www.artstation.com/sarasti
Aerea & Balerion - Naomimakesart www.deviantart.com/naomimakesart
Aerea's Condition - Naomimakesart www.deviantart.com/naomimakesart
Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:28 Intro
00:28 - 2:16 Aerea's Childhood
2:16 - 5:30 Dragonstone & Disappearance
5:30 - 7:01 Aerea's Return
7:01 - 11:26 Mysterious (Valyrian) Malady
11:26 - 12:11 Outro
#houseofthedragon

[@lutilda]

I'm always still shocked that Viserys was allowed - or brave enough - to even try and ride Balerion after that story. It's only about 30 years later.

[@HMSBreadnought]

I have a headcanon that his disease in the show is something he caught from Balerion’s skin after his trip to Valyria

[@ayshazaheen3402]

@@HMSBreadnought damn... makes sense

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

@@ayshazaheen3402 it's already confirmed is just a type of leprosy. It wasn't even that bad, but Viserys refused treatment after Aemma's death because he thought he deserved to die a long and painful death for killing her.

[@ceedee873]

@@HMSBreadnought Although that is an interesting theory and goes with Viserys accidentally cutting himself often and being clumsy, I think the maesters are somehow responsible for his illness, they could be pulling the strings in the background and no one would really know

[@MehIgotnothing]

@@HMSBreadnought I really like that idea for the series, but it doesn't work for the book though.

[@alexholloway9847]

I don’t think George gets enough credit for his horror throughout his world of ice and fire series , especially with how good he is at leaving things unsaid or to imagination but still enough to be a absolutely chilling

[@RainWelsh]

Absolutely. I personally love the story of the time Nymeria and her people tried to settle in Sothoryos, including some of them moving into this huge abandoned city in the jungle, all built from some greasy black stone, which the jungle hadn’t overgrown at all for some reason. Then, after dealing with attacks from the weird-ass natives, and all the horrible, horrible Sothoryos diseases for months… every single person in the city disappeared without a trace, literally overnight. Like, that’s some Lovecraft shit, George, good work.

[@alexholloway9847]

@@RainWelsh That’s what I’m talking about , creepy as hell and leaving just enough for us to wonder at what happened He’s also incredible at foreshadowing as well like before the red wedding how it constantly rains , grey wind refusing to cross the bridge to the twins and getting violent with the Frey’s , how all Frey’s that were loyal to the starks are conveniently absent for the wedding , a group of men loading crossbows in a tent Catelyn at the end of it scratching her face to bits , laughing and then screaming will never not disturb me Terrifying as fuck

[@hamarbiljungskile8953]

Credit for what? Recycling Lovecraft? Push off, m8.

[@HellyeahRook]

In his book of short stories he says he prefers to write scifi horror stories. A lot of his short stories are scifi horror. He's a fantastic horror author, and I think adding horror to SoF was absolutely brilliant however the flip side is he got famous for Fantasy, a genre that isn't his preferred genre.

[@kingstannisbaratheon7974]

@@hamarbiljungskile8953 Oh yes, like Lovecraft didn’t do his fair share of recycling Dunsany and Poe. When will people like you learn that talking about who copied who just leads back to the god damn epic of Gilgamesh. And even then, that no doubt copied some earlier text and so on and so fourth. This is elementary level discourse.

[@jazzycat8917]

I enjoy the theory that "Aerea" wasn't actually Aerea, but her identical twin Rhaella. The two girls seemed to switch personalities after both being at Oldtown, and i think its more than plausible that the wilful Rhaella switched with the meek Aerea in order to avoid being stuck in the life of septa Rhaella was supposed to have.

[@austingarst]

Ok, but where did whichever little girl got on Balerion's back go, and wtf happened to her for her to die this way?? This is truly the most horrific scene I read in any GRRM story based in this universe. Will we ever get an explanation of what happened? I kind of think that whatever happened occurred in the far East. I feel like the only answer could be found in Asshai.

[@bjornerluffy]

This is basically canon! Its much more controversial to suggest that it is in fact OG Aerea, but just because they switched them so early, everyone just calls her Aerea anyway.

[@tooslow4065]

that 'theory' doesnt change anything about this video, so does nothing to advance the plot of this story.

[@DaMazzaf97]

​​​@@austingarst most discussions I've seen on this seem to believe she went to Old Valyria. This may explain why the creatures found within her created great heat within her to the point that all her orifices were billowing smoke, looked like serpents with arms and faces, and died when exposed to ice. Its believed that whatever she encountered there had something to do with the Doom.

[@bjornerluffy]

@@tooslow4065 No, because it happened so early that it effectively just became their real names. Its still interesting though

[@scarymonsterzz]

Despite being a huge monster of a dragon Balerion still spent a whole year with Area, and presumably didn't abandon her wherever they ended up going. Although Balerion was wounded by something and Area had no doubt grown weak from the infection he still made sure to bring her back home. I think Area had become Balerion's true rider, or at least had some degree of control over him. She probably wanted to go on an extended vacation to some far, exotic land like Elissa. Maybe they did go to Old Valeryia or even the Isle of Tears where the blood mages worked their dark arts and met some unexpected horror.

[@colemikel8976]

Honestly old valyria looks nothing like were them monsters would come from. Weve seen some of it in the show and in the book the way the meister describes it makes it sound like a load of bullshit to stear people away from their would explain why they dump stone men their and why the land looks nothing like a place tht has been plagued by something so sinister. Sounds like something from the shadowlands. And side not dont take the meister side of the books serious cuz it is said to be misleading as hell cuz theu altered stuff all the time.

[@PeterPranker1]

@@colemikel8976 do you know how far is Shadowlands from Westeros? Even on dragontop it would take at least a month or something. Do you think she would survive in that condition all the way from Shadowlands? Doesn't make sense.

[@colemikel8976]

@@PeterPranker1 neither does going to old valyria. And yes it does make sense cuz the way the creatures looked. And tht wouldnt be shit for a flight for a dragon of his size. Like i said monsters like tht would come from somewhere were they fit which old valyria isnt.

[@christophergrant6450]

@@colemikel8976 A9

[@jerichopagtama6771]

@@colemikel8976 i always thought that a fire wyrm is the only other beast that could wound something so big as balerion which are from valeria and might still be there

[@Robarath]

I think them specifically mentioning the book on Wyrms is done on purpose. Dragons were created by mixing Firewyrms with Wyverns via Blood Magic. Firewyrms can breathe fire and grow their entire life, and can burrow through earth and rock, but cannot fly. Wyverns can fly, look like Dragons but cannot breathe fire and have a set size they get to. The Valyrians then used more Blood Magic to infuse the Dragon blood into their own. Hence, the Blood of the Dragon literally being Dragon blood in the Valyrians or at least the Dragonlords of Valyria. This also may be why now and then Targaryens give birth to still born children with scales, partial tails, etc. Firewyrms are said to have grown in volcanoes naturally, or at least in the 14 Flames. They start out as small as a finger but grow their entire life. They incubate inside the heat of a Volcanoe. What Balerion encountered was a giant Firewyrm or some mutated one from all the fallout and whatever experiments were let loose in the Doom. During this encounter, The Princess was infected. Balerion, not at first properly bonded with the Princess, was now fully bonded, and felt like her protector during their journeys. If this wasnt true, he wouldve thrown her off his back or let her die much earlier. They fled the attack, Balerion wounded. Balerion took the Princess who now realized she was very ill to the only place he knew that could help, King's Landing. What was inside the Princess, were the beginning stages of Firewyrms or some mutated variant of. The only reason she wasn't already dead is because she has The Blood of The Dragon. The firewyrms were incubating and feeding inside the Princess, rather than a volcano. This infection started either with drinking the water or direct contact with whatever damaged Balerion. One of the best and scariest stories Ive ever read.

[@justinadonis1453]

Dragons were not created they lived in Assiah before them.

[@rabsaque]

This is exactly wht my theory a firewyrm attacked them Balerion fougth it and made it flee or maybe even killed the beast but she got infected with the critters they were cooking and eating her from inside until the moment the masters put and end to it .

[@Robarath]

@@justinadonis1453 I know what you are referring to. However, I do not think anything close to a dragon was seen in Asshai until whatever caused the entire peninsula to be poisoned (Most likely falling stars). This very well could have warped the Wyverns that lived there into an early form of dragon. I also believe that at least some of the people that settled/founded Valyria were the descendants of the Asshai people, as the only mention of them later is that they disappeared into the annals of history after teaching/bringing their traditions and fleshcraft to Valyria. But, who knows, it being mostly a mystery is part of what makes it fun. :)

[@Robarath]

@@rabsaque Yeah, utterly horrifying. I think this theory is further backed up by the fact that Balerion seemed depressed and aloof after her death. I think a lot of it can be attributed to his age and the wounds sustained in Valyria. But, I think he felt like he failed her. He had bonded with her, tried to protect her, then tried to bring her somewhere to help her, and she still died. And Balerion felt her pain and terror until she was finally put out of her misery.

[@rabsaque]

@@Robarath Indeed my dude this has to be what happened it fits so well there is no space for doubt, very interesting can't blame the masters for wanting nothing to do with Valyrian creatures like "fuck that shit!" that migth even be the moment they decided dragon's had to go

[@Argos-xb8ek]

What i love about the story is the only two people that saw the horror were a septon and maester. These two basically a scientist and a priest saw something so horrid and unnatural that they made sure to tell noone of that night

[@calamitysangfroid2407]

it's actually so tragic to think of what happened to balerion too. he left valyria with his master, not really knowing why (i doubt anyone explained the prophetic dream at length to the dragons). then he returns, maybe hoping to find the grand city and luxuries he remembered from childhood, only to find a wasteland full of monsters and no trace of the many, many dragons he remembers. wonder if the dragons always through valyria was still there, with most of their kind? no wonder he got depressed and died (the unhealable wound contributed too).

[@shelkir3550]

oh my god I never thought of it that way. that is so heartbreaking. poor dragons.

[@thefairybug40]

That is an excellent point that never occurred to me before. I wonder if Vhagar guessed all this when she saw Balerion, and outlived him because her knowledge was tempered by that degree of removal? It's one thing to leave home and learn later that it's gone, but it's another to personally witness everything you came to reminisce about in such a state. Poor Balerion!

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

Vaghar never saw Valyria. She born and was raised on Dragonstone, just like Meraxes. Balerion was the only one who came from Valyria.

[@thefairybug40]

@@michaelmcdoesntexist1459 Ah, I didn't know that. I thought all three of the original conquering dragons were born in Valyria. My bad!

[@christinerobbins9376]

@@michaelmcdoesntexist1459 I'm pretty sure that Vhagar was born in the same clutch of eggs that Balerion was born to. Vhagar was either Visenya's or Rhaneyra's dragon (Aegon the Conqueror's sisters, not HoD Rhanerya). I will have to reread, but I think they both came from Valyria.

[@sygmarvexarion7891]

The horrible experiments of the Valyrian mages, freed from their containments, are roaming old Valyria. Balerion clearly fought...something over there, something big enough to wound even him, and Aerea got infested with something. Perhaps she descended to the ground, and it leaped at her.

[@royalteluis623]

Valyrian SCP

[@stormbringer2840]

probably but what Im curious about is that she was away for one full year . She was able to survive on valyria for a year . How ?

[@lordfrostwind3151]

Or worse, something captured them early on, and they either escaped or were let go, some mad surviving mages of Old Valryia, or worse some beast or demon that rules in the old ruins.

[@jjs1300000]

@@lordfrostwind3151 I think a demon lives there now, maybe the doom unleashed a demonic monster. Maybe a balrog like demon.

[@Timbo6669]

@@lordfrostwind3151 yep. I think you’re right. She was captured by someone/something and Balerion fought to free her, hence his damage as well.

[@morganrandler7235]

HoTD is gonna cover more Targaryen history than just the Dance of Dragons so I hope we get a special, or a single season to this story because GOD DAMMIT I wanna see Balerion so bad

[@salahsaadsalah7509]

I hope they cover all of fire and blood at some point

[@AS-ri1mb]

Theres a reason why they called it House of the Dragon and not Dance of the Dragons.

[@Kingoftheworld500]

I can't wait to see Balerion because it's going to be like seeing Drogon again but Vhagar's size.

[@brandenapexo604]

They gotta atleast show a flashback of Aegon and Balerion

[@aegonbreakspear9102]

I doubt it as Valyria is better kept a secret, up to us to think about.

[@johng29]

I think what really killed Balerion was the gash and wounds he incurred after going to Valyria and not old age. He was perfectly fine before he went there and when he came back he never left the dragon pit and just withered away. It's said that the Cannibal was older then Balerion, vhagar, and Meraxes as he was already on dragonstone before the Targerians got there. And he's still definitely full of life by the time of the Dance. I think what Balerion saw/what happened to him when he flew back to his home scarred him so badly that he just gave up on life and allowed himself to die. So I wonder what horrifying abominations roam old Valyria that scared a dragon, that conquered kingdoms, killed thousands, and slew other dragons, to death?

[@_JP_56]

How do you know The Cannibal is older than those three ?

[@roryedward2631]

@@_JP_56 He doesnt. It's literally a tale the smallfolk tell each other because why not. The Cannibal is a wild dragon who has complete freedom. Which means if he actually was older than the others he would be the largest. But hes not. So stop spreading misinformation lol if its not stated in the books as fact, then its not canon.

[@damianlim3429]

scary.

[@AS-ri1mb]

@@roryedward2631 it’s mentioned in the book for a reason, whether it’s been proven as fact or not. Not necessarily misinformation, they could be right.

[@Dell-ol6hb]

@@roryedward2631 it literally says it in the book, but yea it is just a rumor, there’s no reason to believe it but it isn’t misinformation since the book literally brings up that rumor of the Cannibal having been alive since before the Targaryens made it to Dragonstone.

[@phillipyao4260]

Since Aerea and Balerion were bonded, could Balerion have been mentally scarred during Aerea’s suffering and death that he lost the will to live?

[@jjs1300000]

It’s possible you know. Balerion could’ve been devastated by Aerea’s death and by the horrors that now dwell in Valyria. Who the hell knows what kind of monsters dwell there?

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

@@jjs1300000 who can know the heart of a dragon?

[@jjs1300000]

@@michaelmcdoesntexist1459 Poor Balerion, he wanted to see his home and instead saw horrific monsters dwelling in his home.

[@Isuream6331]

@@michaelmcdoesntexist1459 Dragons do seem to be affected by the thoughts of their riders. An obvious example is the disaster at Storm’s End that caused the dance, but I think another is Vermithor and Silverwing. Despite Dragons seemingly being solitary creatures, these two are described as being “coiled around each other” when the dragon seeds go to claim them. The explanation for this must be that the love Jaeherys and Alysanne had for each other, and the many years they spent with each other, imprinted onto the dragons. The point is that Aerea’s fear, pain and desire to go to King’s Landing could have imprinted onto Balerion, and leave him scarred right up to his passing.

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

@@Isuream6331 who can know the heart of a dragon?

[@monicab.1504]

She surely asked Balerion to bring them home, so big was her desire. But Balerion had another home in mind. I would love to know what she talked about, but I think GRR Martin won't ever speak about the horrors inside Valirya... he won't open that door.

[@fanaticbogey]

That's because it makes for good lore to use phrases like "unspeakable horror" and "beyond your wildest imagination" when in reality he has no idea so uses it as the world's boogeyman.

[@monicab.1504]

I wouldn't want to be the one to have to describe with all kind of details what the heck is cooking inside Valyria. What gives me curiosity is the fact that at the start of Game of Thrones, magic was dying, so that's why there wasn't any dragons nor white walkers. Now with Dany, magic was back, and Dragons and White Walkers started to move. What was happening in Valyria while there was no magic? If all these creatures and mutants feed on Blood magic, that was the one that brought Dany's dragons to life?

[@jjs1300000]

Who knows what horrors now lay within Valyria, my guess is that demons dwell there now.

[@McCammalot]

@@monicab.1504 Writers LOVE that sort of thing, though. The challenge is NOT to reveal too much and make it disappointing or excessive.

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

@@monicab.1504 there was still some degree of magic in the world, but it was closer to party tricks than the all powerful magic they can do once the dragons came back

[@emilybarclay8831]

It’s pretty clear Aerea and Rhaella did a switcheroo as kids and took on others identities. As the eldest daughter ‘Aerea’ (really Rhaella) would be expected to make a good political marriage young and would have to deal with other people pushing her into one mould or another her entire life. Her temperament simply wasn’t suited for it and as the younger sister she was free to take a more religious and simple life, free from her house’s fire and blood. Clearly the sisters realised they would be much happier if they swapped roles

[@MaedhrosLorien]

People change when they grow up, that's probably what happened with Aerea and Rhaella, I don't think they were changed, it was just Lord Rogar wanting to win at any cost

[@LusiaEyre]

​@FeanorCurufinwe. Well, the timing of this change it important as it seemed to happen suddenly, not gradually and around the time the other sister went to Old Town to become a Septa. And it was almost complete 180. To go from being timid and afraid of dragons to claiming Balerion the Black Dread? That's some puberty induced personality shift 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@pixiestxNyomouf]

​@@MaedhrosLorienonly trauma could bring about a sudden 180 change like this if they dint switch places

[@eurongreyjoy2]

Please let us get a show focusing on the more horrific aspects of George's world. We need a better version of Valyria's ruins, subtle insights into the dark old gods of Leng and Yi Ti, and perhaps an appearance or some more eerie hints toward the deep ones. Maybe the Jon Snow spinoff will see him contend with these darker forces in a somewhat more direct fashion? Could Jon even visit Asshai looking for deeper knowledge on the White Walkers or his resurrection? The invasion of the deep ones is coming to cleanse the surface world

[@colemikel8976]

Honestly the way the describe it and wht was shown. It sounds like it was really just a natural disaster and old valyria is not dark and mysterious. Cuz them monsters sound nothing born from a land tht clearly aint plagued by nothing besides stone men and has a land tht isnt twisted. Like the shadowlands are.

[@Timbo6669]

@@colemikel8976 um…what?

[@veloxfurem]

i heard hbo is planning an animated series about yi ti!

[@mr.p215]

@@colemikel8976 I mean the doom was just the 14 flames exploding at once, but Valeria wasn't a nice place before that either, Wyverns and Firywyrms certainly ain't something one can ignore.

[@UnfazedPhoenix]

Doubt it. That's way too much. It won't fit into a cohesive TV storyline

[@mouse3872]

Honestly piecing some pieces together it kinda sounds like they flew to Old Valryia woke something powerful up (Fire Wyrm or another ancient Dragon perhaps) that Thing then travelled to the disputed lands where a battle occurred between Balerion and this creature. They successfully kill it or perhaps drive it off back to Valryia but Aerea is infected with these worms. Balerion flies her back to Kings Landing where she dies. Balerion becomes grief stricken by Aereas death and allows himself to succumb to his wounds over time as he never truly left King's landing after this event only flying once more with King Viserys before passing

[@kunalm15]

Honestly this is the best explanation on what happened. We already know cannibal stone men live in outskirts of old Valriya but we don’t know what lives inside the heart of old Valriya, things straight out of nightmare. Honestly I don’t think Balerion managed to defeat it but barely managed to escape but Aerea was there long enough to get badly infected.

[@jjs1300000]

This sounds very likely, poor Aerea and Balerion.

[@mbovb006]

I wonder if it has more to do with the 'psychic' bond the rider and dragon develops. If she successfully connected with Balerion then perhaps he felt what she was feeling. The way Caraxes felt Daemon get shot by an arrow. The begging for death and constant torture that Aereas endured. Perhaps that coupled with the wounds and the Dragons own feelings are what made Balerion give up?

[@jjs1300000]

@@mbovb006 Poor Balerion, he was devastated by Aerea’s death.

[@jjs1300000]

@@mbovb006 If that’s happened, poor Balerion.

[@dianasayson2846]

Could whatever killed Balerion be the thing that ate up Viserys from inside? He did ride the Black Dread. Maybe microscopic version of what killed Aerea made it into Viserys' body somehow, from the folds of Balerion's scales.

[@tiffmonique7154]

Ahh! Good point!

[@rorisang88]

From Daemons hinting the Otto and Aliscent poisoned King Viserys when they couldn't get him to go along with their succession plan

[@mlv0]

@@rorisang88 he wasn't poisoned, he had leprosy.

[@Louis-si4ci]

Damn fine thoughtfully worked out....I bloody applaud you 👏

[@dianasayson2846]

@@mlv0 how do you know?

[@dachitronmagnus5755]

The perfect ASOIAF story to cover for Halloween. I will NEVER forget reading it for the first time. It's one of the most disturbing things I have ever read.

[@carastone3473]

Agreed!

[@jjs1300000]

I was horrified when I read that part.

[@RainWelsh]

I think it hits so hard because it comes from so far out of left field. Up to that point the worst you get is some veiled discussions about torture, and the occasional grisly battle wounds. Then suddenly it’s “human pork crackling full of shrieking worms”, catches you a little off-guard.

[@sebastiandiego5905]

You should read, or hear, the latest chapter released from Aeron “The Damphair” Greyjoy from The Winds of Winter. Holy crap, that chapter is intense

[@kinda_cold_in_the_closet]

at that point i had been numbed to people being stabbed, poisoned, burned, trampled and whatnot but, as a trypaphobe who's fear came from my fear of insects and maggots, HELL FUCKING NO BITCH THAT SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME

[@rookiequasar5763]

I do think it’s possible that Aerea was impregnated by some horror within Valeria, but also, theoretically... she survived long enough to least most of a year before returning home, so that means she must have had some kind of sustenance to keep her going in the in between. She was emaciated by the time she returned home, but that might have been a development starting a little while before the realization something was critically wrong with her internals became so critical even Balerion was like “we’re going back.” I don’t know how much time it took for the original Targaryen trio to reach Westeros from Valeria, but I’d assume the travel time still took a good bit since a dragon is not a tireless jet flying at insane speeds... I think. And Balerion might have been smaller then, but probably not by too much. Whatever infected Aerea might have been something she ingested while trying to survive on her own with only Balerion for company. It could have taken weeks or months to develop to the point seen by the Maesters, and her health could have been rapidly deteriorating due to the parasites she’d unwittingly ingested. Infested meat, or water, could have been the catalyst for her death in particular. Or something more brutal and horrifying, but it could be less invasive and more just “this is why you bring your on bottled water and canned food” type situation. I like this idea more, personally, but all ideas are valid here. This is blood magic shit we’re talking about.

[@hennakreed8860]

I thought the same thing. That in Valyria, Aerea either ate or drink something that was infected by firewyrms

[@daddyemu7047]

lol the original trio If you’re talking about Aegon the Conquer and his sister wives, well, they never set foot on Valyria. They were born on Dragonstone.

[@BriarMaeriSibyle]

....the targaryens fled from valyria to dragonstone a little over 100 years before Aegon's conquest. so no, Aegon, Visenya and Rhaenys did not fly on Balerion from valyria to dragonstone..

[@rookiequasar5763]

Whoops, my mistake! There was a LOT of lore rolling around my head at the time, forgot that the earlier members of the family were the ones who scuttled away safely, not the three conquerors. Was more focused on survival and biology than House Targaryen’s specific history. Thanks for the reminders, folks!

[@CelibateCetologist]

It wasn’t Aegon and his sisters who left Valyria, it was Aegon’s father Aerion.

[@keyboardwarrior3702]

Theory Area and Balareon first went to the disputed lands to seek help/escape whatver attacked the dragon. Then the worms infecting Area began spreading through the villages and she burnt them all. Her last public statement of "I never meant to..." probably refers to releasing whatever that was on innocent villagers. It also explains why she never flew home even in such a desparate situation. She was terrified of dooming her family to the same fate.

[@raevis9]

To me this scene has certain parallels to Daenerys and Drogon. Just like Balerion, Drogon took Dany to his "home". She was able to control him somewhat and he definitely tolerated her, but in the end it was the dragon that made the decision, and in both cases that was the decision to stay. Daenerys was lucky it was just some rock in the Dothraki sea, so she could try to get away. Aerea on the other hand was trapped in - presumably - Valyria. I don´t think she wanted to be there and I don´t think she had any fun at all. But she had no choice and barely survived (given how starved she was), as I guess similar to Dany on Balerions / Drogons leavings. And I assume they just left because something attacked... or maybe because Aerea was dying... or maybe both.

[@Flanneryschickens]

Since Drogon was born on the Dothraki Sea, it makes sense why he would return there as his home. So Balerion probably did go back to old valyria

[@carolynallisee2463]

Poor 'Aerea'! It's made obvious in 'Fire and Blood' that the two sisters swapped places in Old Town , even if it isn't stated directly that they did. Putting that aside, the girl known as Aerea Targaryen met an awful end, and whilst she was carried around by Balerion she must have seen some memorable things, including other dragons. Why? I think that the creatures infesting her body were dragon parasites: certainly, at least one had a size better fitted to being inside a dragon, and the fact they were hot enough to cook her slowly from within says they had, and were accustomed to hosts with a far higher body temperature than a human's. Whether Balerion had been infested too, we will never know, and if he had been, they clearly didn't trouble him very much. It was noted that he returned with some serious injuries, fresh injuries: as the last living creature who'd been in the Valyrian Freehold before the Doom, I think he went back there, looking for more of his kind. He may well have found them, perhaps, in the Boiling Sea, there was a volcanic island that at least one other, wild, dragon had made its home. Perhaps they fought, perhaps they mated and then Balerion was driven off afterward. No matter what happened, the encounter allowed the parasites to infest new hosts, which included the hapless Aerea.

[@Ashbrash1998]

I don't think there were other dragons, because sailors traveling near there would have seen them or they could have flown off to better hunting grounds. But dragon like abominations I can see, like giant wyrms or other creatures mutated by valyrian magic gone wrong.

[@katiemartin6991]

I think it's possible that the firewyrms inside Aerea also got inside Balerion, and his gaping smoking wounds are from trying to scratch them out with his own talons.

[@mrsnulch]

This was the best part of Fire and Blood for me because the more you think about it, the more messed up it is. Aerea was gone for over a year. It’s safe to assume she was taken to Valyria, but it’s unthinkable how she must have spent her days there for a full year. How did she survive? Was she captured by some sorcerer or demon shortly after she arrived, and tormented for the full year? Or was she living off the land, only to get infected like this in a freakish encounter with something evil? And even more crazy, how did she get home? She managed to make a desperate flight across the narrow sea right before she died an agonizing death. Did Balerion rescue her in some way, getting injured in the process? Did Balerion refuse to go back to Dragonstone until they both got attacked by something? In short, what in the hell happened over there?!!!

[@VisceralSupreme]

I don't think anything could've kept her there without killing balerion given his size (especially something animalistic), so she probably either just lived there, either scavenging or with some community, or some weird magic was involved, perhaps grounding the black dread while they were already a good ways in, so they had to walk for ages or smth

[@RoseKoneko]

I wonder if this is a byproduct of what brought the doom of Valaria or what remains of their horrifying experiments. There’s probably a reason why certain families can bind to dragons where others could not.

[@l.josino]

exactly what i believe too. that their blood magic involved interbreeding with a dragon-like species (wyverns) and literal birth of the dragons from human women (there are a lot of interbreeding tales in awoiaf and sometimes targaryens give birth to dragon-like babies). this allowed some bloodlines from which the dragons came to bond with them and since they kept marriages within the family it's far easier for the dragonlord valyrians to ride a dragon and so on

[@Flanneryschickens]

@@l.josino that.....would actually make a lot of sense as to why Targaryens have trouble reproducing with non-Targaryens, and why they have so much incest to preserve the bloodline. If they're human-dragon chimeras themselves, or somehow different because of blood magic it makes sense As for why Daenerys was immune to fire, she was the result of a line of brother-sister incest after her grandfather bringing back the practice that had mostly died out, even forcing her parents to marry because of a prophecy. And only after all that would Daenerys eventually bring back dragons to the world. Perhaps the prophecy was about how the different genetic and magical fvkery of old valyria would be realized in her, the last Targaryen

[@adamjinx9932]

Man, whatever them folks of Old Valyria were up to must have been messed up. Literally the whole race was cursed, not even Dany could escape that fate.

[@BriarMaeriSibyle]

messing with magic that wasn't theirs to mess with basically

[@josiahdavistv1216]

I hate when people say aeara could not control balerion if she left for a year and was in valaryia as yall say what did she eat I don't think she can hunt and forages for food so balerion must have hunted for them both and protected her from the gray man. Aera and came back over a year later on the back of balerion so she clearly had some kind of control over him if she was sick and came home to get help she choose to stay where she was at and only returned for medical help

[@stormbringer2840]

That's what Im most curious about . She most likely WILLINGLY went to valyria and managed to survive for a year , which means for a dragon rider it IS possible . But what did she discover there ? And what did eventually attacked her and Balerion ?

[@sunking369]

I'd love to believe that however she was clearly starving and whatever attacked them both was that of dark magic and formidable enough to wound Balerion.

[@Flanneryschickens]

@@sunking369 maybe the parasites were why she was starving, if they were consuming any nutrients she took in

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

I wouldnt call that "control" but a "Bond". At least strong enough for Balerion to care about her well being and share food and solace with her.

[@josiahdavistv1216]

@@sunking369 what ever attack them attack them 1 year later all I'm saying is she clearly had control over balerion

[@nahortesfaldet2313]

Imagine Balerion, leaving for a new homeland with your riders long ago, one day going back home to where you were born only to discover it's now a smoking wasteland overrun with monsters and all your kin there is gone.

[@jserrano51]

I got Fire & Blood on audiobook first and OMG when this chapter, the fear in the narrator voice gave me goosebumps. GRRM is great with Dread and Horror. I suspect The Winds of Winter will be the creepiest book in ASOIAF saga.

[@CrusaderChris]

I agree with you. TWOW will certainly have horror elements, especially with whatever Euron does in Oldtown

[@kimsmells1]

If we ever get it

[@liislive529]

@@kimsmells1 can’t believe we are still waiting it’s been 11 years

[@dogbert14]

Winds of Winter isn't coming out. Ever. I've given up completely on GRRM in this regard. And if it does see the light of day, it will be an incomplete version pieced together by someone else after his death. If I turn out to be wrong, I'll eat my words. But I expect to starve for the foreseeable future.

[@kimsmells1]

@@dogbert14 I don't disagree with what you're saying :(

[@Aerie925]

I think it’s possible that Area was taken to Old Valyria, but I also think it’s possible that she was taken to somewhere on the continent of Sothoryos. It’s largely unexplored. Who knows what creatures dwell deep within the continent.

[@samuraicupcake289]

As much as I like that idea, I don't think Balerion would have any reason to go there. It is clear that _he_ was in control and decided to head back to his home that he remembered from before the Doom. Seeing it destroyed and corrupted must have been devastating for him, and he clearly fought whatever was lurking there now. Sothoryos is like a jungle, full of apex predators, cannibals and cruel diseases. But even so, I doubt there is anything there quite as horrifying as what befell Aerea.

[@BriarMaeriSibyle]

if balerion had taken them to sothoryos, they wouldn't have come back...period

[@Divine_Chareka]

Another sign that the Targaryens didn't have full control over their dragons

[@thetalesofelbek7042]

She didn’t have full bond , you need some time. Don’t generalize

[@AS-ri1mb]

@@thetalesofelbek7042 a full bond? Where does it say that it takes time for a full bond?

[@tooslow4065]

@@AS-ri1mb no where.

[@ebukaobieri]

Lol some of y’all are just running with that dumb ass quote from Viserys. The Targs 1000% had control over their Dragons. Aerea didn’t have control over 1 very old, very ancient dragon. And idiots are now extrapolating that to mean that the Targs overall couldn’t control their dragons. Such a dumb line of thinking. That’s like saying a family of horse riders cannot ride horses because their 7 year old daughter failed to ride a big and strong one. Again I say, dumb as line of thinking.

[@scarymonsterzz]

She may not have had full and complete control over him (I don't think any dragonrider truly does) but they were gone for over a year. She had to have gone some place where there was food and water at some point and Balerion didn't abandon her, even after he was wounded by something and she became infected. Maybe she intended to go on a long adventure like Elissa and ended up finding someplace with full of unknown horrors. Maybe Balerion tried to take her back but was too late.

[@johno1544]

Balerion had not suffered so much as a scratch in all his battles and wars before this. He was thought to be near invincible before this. Unlike the show adult dragons couldnt be harmed with scorpion bolts unless hit in the eye.

[@annabougato9628]

The travesty of season 7 and 8 🥴

[@Flanneryschickens]

Ugh you just reminded me of that and I'm so mad all over again

[@Naners022491]

Wait, did they mention that then? The Dornish got Meraxes right in the friggin' eye????? The more I read about them, the more I'm convinced I need a series focused on Dorne. I mean, hell, even in GoT, the Dornish characterization is so much more interesting than everyone else.

[@johno1544]

@@Naners022491 The Dornish got Meraxes with a lucky shot in her eye with a scorpion-bolt at the battle of Hellholt

[@Naners022491]

@@johno1544 I remember that, but I don't remember if they mentioned that's the only way you can kill a dragon.

[@hailkingcerion800]

That Balerion remembered to go to Valyria, maybe that's where Drogon took Dany's body. Not to Valyria but where he remembers... Meereen. I can see Daario being awoken by the flapping of wings, a dark shadow about the great pyramid and thinking that it is his Queen coming to see him and finding only the corpse of the Mother of Dragons then being filled with rage and a broken heart, seeking revenge. Boom, Daario could return as an adversary in Snow to challenge Bran's reign.

[@vikib1758]

That would be great, but I still believe that she could come back, There was a priestess of R'hllor in there the last time I check

[@darksister535]

Interesting!! I love it.

[@sweettt321]

Whatever lurks in Old Valyria, I doubt it's anything like the Valyria we saw in the show (wtf even was that?). Balerion was the last living creature to have been there, it was his home before the Doom. It makes sense for him to fly back there at least once or twice in his long life, but I do think he fully bonded with Aerea. He could have left her wherever they went, not cared about her at all, but they returned *together* . His wounds could have been the result of fighting a beast while protecting Aerea. After reading the comments I also wonder if dragons have a longer lifespan than what we think. We think they can live for two ish hundred years, but that's only because Balerion was two centuries old. No other dragon reached that age, even Vhagar was twenty years younger. Maybe the "the Cannibal is older than Balerion" rumor isn't too crazy

[@CrusaderChris]

I really like the Cannibal theory, particularly that he’s an adjacent species to the dragons we know of. Perhaps he’s a descendant of the species of dragon the Great Emperors of the Dawn rode, and I might make a video on that theory.

[@jjs1300000]

I don’t think it’s too far fetched, maybe the Cannibal came from Valyria?

[@sweettt321]

@@jjs1300000 I don't really think so. Given his hatred for Valyrian dragons and Targaryen dragonseeds it wouldn't be too wild to theorize that he's a different breed of dragon from a different part of the world

[@jjs1300000]

@@sweettt321 That possible, maybe another the Cannibal came from another family.

[@jonniemckaig883]

People say Jaehaerys’ reign wouldn’t be interesting on screen but honestly, there should be a show showing from Aegons conquest to the end of Jaehaerys’s reign. It was such an interesting time

[@zeetuslupeedus]

This is one of my favorite stories from Fire and Blood. It’s sad and mysterious and tragic. Thanks for covering it !

[@papazama]

My ideia is that Targaryans control of Dragons are more releated to feelings and not exactly orders, is diferent from a Dog and human, that one sees the other as it leader or owner, like if Targaryans could link they fellings to the Dragon and they become hypnotized with that feeling, and the feeling that one person control them make them able to ride and use Dragons, because Dragons feelings is that they are submissive to Targaryans, so when the rider is mad they dragons become mad too, and so on. Daenerys loved her dragons as if they were her childrens and they were attached to her like children, which could be related to a Dog and human relationship, but after other books and characters were introduced that had dragons we doesn't see that conection between them, because to most of them Dragons were merely tools, what i think happened is that Aerea missed Kings Landing so much that her feeling was to deep to be releated to one place but was releated to her birthplace, and when Balerion incarneted that feeling he went to Valyria beucase that's his birthplace, that could explain why Balerion was choose to be in that moment, because he was the only one that came from Valyria.

[@Ivbo]

I genuinely think that Balerion and Aerea were closely bonded and she left Westeros with him by choice. They may have eventually come across some unknown mysterious creature that attacked them, and Balerion got into a huge battle with it managing to just about save them from immediate danger but Aerea got poisoned by something this creature did, maybe a scratch and her body wasn’t able to survive this but his was considering his strength. Balerion was badly wounded when he came back with her, what could’ve possibly wounded a dragon as experienced and strong as him. I think the story of Aerea and Balerion is one of the best mysteries in a song of ice and fire. I would love to get a whole book of their journey or even a season or two on HOTD following them after the Dance Of Dragons concludes.

[@meganw.4457]

I've been fascinated by this story -- I think there could be an entire book dedicated to what she was doing there w Balerion and what she may have discovered but was unable to tell people bc she was too sick. Clearly she was able to survive for a year before she got infected w the firewyrm parasites, and Balerion brought her home when she was too sick to function anymore. I think she WANTED to stay. I think she was EXPLORING. And I think there are a LOT of things waiting to be discovered in Old Valyria besides horrors. I think little by little, more adventurers will go there. And I also think dragons are there. Balerion wasn't affected by being there for a year, but he had clearly been fighting w /something/. Either other dragons or something more ferocious than dragons. So dragons can clearly survive there and may even have a natural predator there to keep them in check. And almost no people go there, so the dragons wouldn't have that concern of being "discovered" and manipulated. They're smart creatures in their way. They could be thriving there, honestly. I'm keen to hear a story about Old Valyria from the perspective of someone who went there and survived there for a year. What if she was living there, keeping notes, keeping a journal, and left it somewhere safe, knowing she was going to die in madness and not be able to share her discoveries? It really has a very Lovecraft feel, though, doesn't it? It's a great spooky story.

[@shainaelise2694]

I would love to see this theory of yours come to fruition in future HoTD seasons (since a book is unlikely at this point lol)

[@CelibateCetologist]

Book Euron Greyjoy claims to have sailed to Valyria and survived but nobody knows if he’s telling the truth. Thing is, he’s a very experienced sailor (not unlike Corlys Velaryon) and has sailed all over the known world so that manages to give some legitimacy to his claim.

[@Mcherri]

@@CelibateCetologisthe probably did however he didn’t travel at the heart of old Valyria so he wouldn’t know what could be there. I believe there are dragons or a rogue experiment living there but in the heart away from anyone and that’s what attacked balerion.

[@MrPowellful]

I'd love to see this expanding on more!

[@roryedward2631]

Who knows what other beasts exist in the ruins of Valyria. Most are probably dead, but those like the firewyrms and other heat resistant creatures still roam the fourteen flames. No wonder entire armies disappeared.

[@tooslow4065]

except that if this was the real world, you'd still have more info incoming, since people would get closer and closer to the place. thats how science works- you test and test. for the army that disappeared there, there would have been camp followers behind them. they would have either left survivors to tell the tale or the camp followers would have written notes.

[@Ittheyzezermeowpurr]

I love the sound effects you added in. Having my Bluetooth on this really enhanced it.

[@eldritchbeauty]

I haven't had a chance to read this in the books, but I have watched other videos detailing Aerea's fate. I enjoyed your telling of it the most, though; you know how to weave a story excellently. Really makes me wish we could have a movie of this -- it would be a fantastic cosmic horror movie and we'd get to see fallen Valeria. Great video, and an easy sub for me.

[@CrusaderChris]

I appreciate that, thank you

[@JingleJangle256]

I don’t know what’s more disturbing: that it happened or that the artist for Fire And Blood drew it in detail.

[@stardust1815]

Holy shit...I thought I was desensitized to a lot of horror stuff and went into this expecting that I'd get through it thinking "huh, that's scary and sad, but not *horrific*." I was dead wrong. The idea of burning from the inside out...and I think I started squirming once you started talking about the creatures crawling inside her. Ugh.

[@thesterben5573]

it is also possible that another surviving valeryan dragon still resides in the ruins of old valerya

[@alzbetavarmuzova7709]

one of my favorite characters, with Grey Ghost.. great video 🙂

[@slabbyfatback2272]

Well done Sir- Enjoyed that and learned something

[@spearshake4771]

I lowkey want a horror story in the realm of Stephen King's type of writing following a crew of a merchant cog who strays off course and lands on the shores of Valyria. I know George likes to leave a lot of stuff up for mystery and speculation but this would be cool to read. But ONLY after he finishes The Winds

[@thegrayknight71]

Great video. Thx. Just when you think Old Valerya can't be any more scary, stories like these comes forth. Scary.

[@ajackass5950]

Always loved this bit of lore. I'm writing a grim dark high fantasy series and this sort of thing would be right at home in my books.

[@cornstarchpajamas5695]

I’d love to read them then. This kind of stuff is the best parts of GRRM’s world

[@valysheev]

Just do me a favor and finish them please.

[@aaronlee5073]

Whatever can leave 9ft gash on the most powerful dragon in history…needs to remain unknown to men

[@jjs1300000]

No joke, it sounds like another dragon or chimera attacked Balerion.

[@illuminawty666]

maybe Aerea tried to explore Valerya and came upon a lava wyrm nest, and what was moving inside her was lavawyrm larva devouring her insides.

[@rhaenyratargaryen1stofhern55]

The reason Aerea became bold is that she switched places with her twin in Oldtown. She’s not the original Aerea.

[@Hash_kw]

If they are going to make an Aerea story in HOTD they should make it a horror fantasy genre

[@justinfrazier9555]

At first I believed she had ran into Fire Wyrms. First because Fire Wyrms were specifically mentioned in Septon Barth's book, Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History. Secondly the young Fire Wyrms are mentioned at being around the size of a child's arm but grow immensely larger through their life cycle. The only things I can see as a counter point is 1. They have never been recorded having to use another body to breed their young. 2. Bodies found in caves inhabited by them are burned corpses. Therefore they were not used to incubate their young. Interesting indeed. The rocks near those corpses are also described as blackened, cracked, and full of holes.

[@kunalm15]

Honestly would love a sequel series to GoT even if at limited capacity that explores the ruins of Old Valriya. Something evil resides there and it must be known.

[@Onigirli]

Must it, though? I question your morbid curiosity

[@LordOfAllusion]

It’s possible she was taken to Sothoryos. There are theories that it was the original land of the dragons. It’s also almost entirely unexplored, so who knows what creatures, men, or magic live there. It could be that Balereon flew somewhere deep in Sothoryos and found a creature forgotten by time or native only to those jungles which attacked Balereon. Perhaps Aerea was captured by the mages of those lands and made a sacrifice or was made part of some ancient ritual. I’d love for George to expand on that.

[@mr.p215]

There was a dragon rider that flew south in Sothoryos for multiple months and when she came back she called it an endless empty land that seemed to have no end. So I doubt whatever it was, was from there.

[@ioannistsak9843]

I at the same time want and don't want George to expand on that and ruin the mystery which is such an important factor in stories like this.

[@BriarMaeriSibyle]

there's no reason for balerion to have gone to sothoryos. and i highly doubt either of them would have survived if they'd actually gone there

[@MrPowellful]

They were gone for about a year, so it's possible they visited many places.

[@adamc_vp77]

They need to show what happened to Aerea and Balerion, I need to see what could've possibly fought the most powerful dragon alive so I can finally put the theories in my head to rest🤣

[@ThePointlessBox_]

Its better to keep such things a mystery because no matter what they show it wont live up to the hype Same as the white walkers in GOT, in the books theyre a sinister force that comes out of god knows where, nobody knows what they want and theyre shrouded in a dark mystery. The show just made them blue dudes

[@StygianWolf]

@@ThePointlessBox_ LMAO...blue dudes...no different than giant smurfs.

[@SamUHells]

@@ThePointlessBox_ the show kept them mysterious, but almost so much that it made them pointless. their only goal in the show was killing the 3 eyed raven. expectations could have been met if the show runners didn’t half ass the last few seasons.

[@annabougato9628]

@@SamUHells forget the last seasons of GOT. If they'd been written by competent writers we would have had at least a season of white walker threat which made them more dynamic than the bullshit they pulled in season 8

[@SamUHells]

@@annabougato9628 agreed, they honestly should have gotten the iron throne stuff out of the way early then ended with the fight with the white walkers. I’ll never understand why they went from world ending threat, back to politics. Made no sense really.

[@thebaneking4787]

Awesome scary story. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@nal2881]

To see ruins of Valyria and survive is a great feat. I'd love to see If Martin would give us more glimpse what Valyria looks like now. Anyway Doom not only destroyed Valyria but exposed Dragonlords ambitions IMHO they wished to create hybrid of human/dragon. I think they created those chimeras as experiments to further their goals by beign one race with dragons. Riding dragons was not enough for them. That's why most Valyrian Sphinxes are humans with wings etc. Gogossos was probably one of places outside peninsula to work with slaves. Imagine beign Dragonlord - one of 40 families. Most powerfull must have thousands of slaves working either under Fourteen flames or farming at Lands of Long Summer. You are part of ancient family that can do a lot of magic, rides dragons, is inhumanly beautiful, creates weapons, armour and rings etc from Valyrian steel and lives in topless towers made of fused strone harder than diamond uses Glass Candles that works like modern phones and internet. Unlike Targaryens You have dragon horn and magic whip that allows You to completely master any dragon. That what dragonlords were. So guess what they wanted.The only thing left is immortality or lifespans of dragons. That's why they created hybdrids. Dragonlords didnt belived im gods and viewed them as tradition of ancestors. They were so advanced to dare to treat themselfs as gods!

[@tooslow4065]

except valyria had deities. so they did worship gods.

[@nal2881]

@@tooslow4065 Yes, but did You read what a wrote? They had gods and they had history of worshiping gods and most likely common Valyrians did indeed worshiped their deities but I did write about Dragonlords not common Valyrians. Some scholars have written that the dragonlords considered themselves more powerful than gods and most likely there were most powerful humans that lived according to what history says about them.

[@urielcalderon9639]

The doom of Valeria Was a Frankenstein of a creation of their own ambition that perhaps sent all the dragons mad and this intense event of dragons revanging the Valeria also probably set off the volcano.

[@andrewyakovlev9710]

Euron did😊

[@trinnygirl1]

I don’t think Balerion did this to Aerea. If he didn’t bond with her she would have been killed straight away. They were probably fine until they were infected with whatever it was they encountered wherever they went.

[@calvinit21]

Great video! I just finished Fire & Blood and Aerea's story is horrific even by ASOIAF standards.

[@kylelee5966]

which is scariest; the shadow lands of Ashai, the Ruins of Old Valyria, the North beyond the Wall or the unexplored areas of Sothoros?

[@salahsaadsalah7509]

North of the wall seems to be okayish as normal people can live there

[@amateurbarnaby]

The Shadowlands i mean even the shadowbinders dont go to that place so no one really knows what's in there.

[@jjs1300000]

Valyria, Sothoros, Stygai and the Shadowlands, god only knows what dwells there.

[@ajb117]

Yes.

[@Izanami037]

@@salahsaadsalah7509 The Others would like a word and for you to join their army of the undead.

[@ller655]

literally just finished reading this part in fire and blood moments ago and it was very spine-chilling to even think about

[@alexholloway9847]

Balerion had wounds as well Read that and had to stop for a moment , whatever still resides in old Valyria should be left well alone Worms with faces and arms inside me ? No thanks

[@jjs1300000]

@@alexholloway9847 Some things should be left alone, and that is very clear in regards to Valyria.

[@alexholloway9847]

@@jjs1300000 I suppose left to his own thoughts balerion still thought of it as home , but they stayed way too long Aereas mother Rhaena had a life filled with tragedy

[@jjs1300000]

@@alexholloway9847 Rhaena led a sad, tragic life and I believe she deserved better along with her daughters. I feel sad for Balerion, he was clearly stricken by Aerea’s death.

[@alexholloway9847]

@@jjs1300000 Just finished reading the reign of Jaeherys and it’s even more tragic Him and Alysanne losing all daughters really got me , especially Daela ,viserra and Alyssa Saera didn’t die but still had a terrible fate A really tragic end to a great king and queen

[@astarothbend7245]

Thank you so much for this. I knew the story that she left on a dragon and came back just to die within the hour but that was it. Sweet suffering J!!! I would have not even dared to imagine it was Baleryon and that her death was this horrible and mysterious. Now I want to know more about this infection. Anyone has a link to a video covering it? Thanks a bunch!!! Bless!

[@SopieMunky]

This was my favorite story from Fire & Blood! So many possibilities for new lore!

[@AlmaWadeCrymsm]

I really want to know what they both saw for both to come back injured and such....what the heck was out there that they encountered

[@wintergreen2.073]

Sounds like another real threat and horror that would be interesting to explore

[@daze.d5462]

GRRM's world is so vast and complex that its only fitting that we see at least some short films or short mini series about the interesting characters such as this while we wait for 2 years for HotD S2 to air.

[@Drpavel564]

Women who deserved better. Rhaella Helaena Aerea Narys Daella Viserra Jaehaera Lelia Lannister Alys Oakheart Feel free to add your own.

[@CrusaderChris]

Jeyne Poole 😔

[@jjs1300000]

Honestly Alicent, Helaena, Daella, Aemma, Rhaena, Jaehaera, and Rhaella deserved better, and so did Aerea and Naerys.

[@shramanamondal4624]

I disagree with Viserra tho,, would have added Shireen either

[@samhart4205]

Elia Martell

[@wren6387]

Almost all women in ASOAIF have it really bad. Its hard to read about.

[@coldmountain1997]

Wow your video blew up, deserved!

[@talynhastime9343]

This weird supernatural alien horror is so chilling and it’s made even more effective by the fact that it’s tucked in the annals of history rather than as a main plot point. You are left with nothing but second hand accounts and distant memory to piece together what happened, and even those who were there didn’t rightly know what had exactly happened.

[@Bear-lo4ms]

Really good timing posting this so soon after the season finale of HOTD. Now I have something to link people to whenever they start claiming that dragons having will of their own is something the show invented to weasel out of making Aemond Targaryen completely irredeemable.

[@NeilsonBuntowa]

If only the same thing will happen to aemond with vhagar like history repeating itself. Imagine the horror on alicents face to see aemond in that state.

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

Dude... Dragons always had a will of their own. Try reading the books

[@Bear-lo4ms]

@@michaelmcdoesntexist1459 can you... not read?

[@michaelmcdoesntexist1459]

@@Bear-lo4ms You tell me. The books are full of instances of dragons acting on their own will. By saying they don't have any you kinda prove you didn't read.

[@Bear-lo4ms]

@@michaelmcdoesntexist1459 My original comment is thanking the maker of this video for giving me a video I can link to people who don't believe that the dragons have free will in the source material. WHere in the name of every possible god did you get the impression that I think they have no free will? Again, can you read?

[@zhongscozzie4945]

I hope there will be a book of old Valeria... Intriguing

[@misshaleyy825]

Thank you for sharing this horrifying tale but now I am feeling sympathetic and sad because a fictional dragon died thousands of years ago in a book about brother/sister incest... how strange. LOL no I'm obsessed with GOT and HOTD and the books as well

[@Andre_APM]

I remember after I read this I had to put the book down for a few days. I was so thrown off.

[@juanarriola8813]

Same here man, the book is heavy as fuck. Even in the beginning chapters during the conquest, when rhaenys and her dragon got killed. We both know it wasnt instant

[@tacticalministries3508]

I think the fact that given Belarion's age and size at the time, the fact there is something out there that could even hurt him should be absolutely terrifying

[@NonAnonD]

What’s the music playing in the background during the 8:40 section?

[@redwillow311]

I want a book or a Graphic Novel with the full story of what happened!!

[@Ghostmite]

I like the ideas I've heard about it being either other stray Dragons/Fire Wyrms that survived the doom or their descendents. We don't really know how old Cannibal was when he enters the story, he's just....."there," as far as anyone in Westeros knows. I mean, it could have been him who scared Balerion out there in the world. As far as we know, he didn't even receive the wound in Valyria. I mean, dragons are mythical creatures and all but I'm sure they would heal relatively fast, especially since their possibly made from magic. The wound is still fresh and everything, that had to have happened within a day or two. Either Balerion could have been fleeing something, or his bond with Aerea was linked just enough for him to realize his rider was in danger and decided to fly back to King's Landing to get help. (That last part is just because we know dragons are smart enough to realize when something is wrong with their rider) Also, I like the idea of something completely different, like a mutated Chimera or creature from the deep depths being the possible culprit, that kinda feeds into GRRM's love for Lovecraftian horror.

[@deep-fried-zombie699]

Wish we could’ve got more of this

[@TurinInquisitor]

poor little Aerea 😭 also this is peak horror. i'd never go anywhere near Valyria.

[@solcitizen5645]

I swear I just read that part of Fire & Blood. It was so good

[@exposingproxystalkingorgan4164]

This is indeed very creepy. There are various monsters out there.

[@virgilsierra6007]

Didn’t the Baratheons go to Old Town to seek her out but they ran when Old Town said they were calling for back up and refused to hand her over? That’s how I remembered it from Fire & Blood

[@phatcat4384]

she was switched with her twin btw, she was still timid as a Septer.

[@Daron7181]

So, did the worm things that came out of the girl die in the cold water or were they weakened enough to be killed?

[@shramanamondal4624]

They died due to the cold ice

[@TheColorOfCaramel]

I would love for a fantasy/horror story be told on this by a Hollywood director already established in horror....I would even hire Blumhouse Studio to do the horror details and tell them you have free reign to go full tilt.

[@Demos_Jeff]

The Targaryens being dragon lords and not even being the top dogs in Valyria tells me there were lords with WAYYY scarier stuff that’s now just loose on the streets of Valyria. Like the lions in I Am Legend

[@bamig8063]

Music was a nice creepy touch. Anyone k ow the track names?

[@pratikmali8251]

The night king by Ramin djawadi

[@raspyraspberries]

Wasn't there a theory that dragons may be able to sense or feel the emotion of their rider? Aerea wanted adventure to distant lands and Balerion sensed that, what if old Valyria was the place he felt would fulfill that? Also, it wouldn't make sense for Aerea to remain alive without help from Balerion, so it would seem like the two had bonded, I'm sure a dragon as fierce as him would be impressed by the courage of a young girl daring to ride his back.

[@321girlwantstohavefun]

Just clocked that the place of Dragon Stone is supposed to represent Wales cos of the dragon on the Welsh flag. The Prince of Wales is always next in line to the throne unless it's a queen but you get me, so being held in Dragon Stone and being in line to the throne and owning that area/seat means you're due to reign/rule

[@hubertwaliszewski5740]

The things that burst from Aerea were creepy. But i really wanna know what creature other that Vhagar or the Cannibal dared to challenge Balerion, and even these two would probably be like: "It's not worth the risk".

[@indrar7766]

How bout mini series about Aerea dan Balerion journey in old Valirya

[@Royal_Chief_Architect]

I can’t stand Baelor the Blessed like he should be flogged is it just me or does the book seem really set for us to loose? We have no information. The church and the citadel have effectively kept all knowledge of the others and ancient Valeria from resurfacing. Rhollor in that way may be helpful, but idk. We have some confused people with some huge roles and it just seems like this is not going to go according to plan. The existence worms can’t be any less fd up than the existence of the others. Dark magic all around and no way to protect other than passed down stories and hero’s and magic blades. What really is going on here? Love the lore.

[@Ashbrash1998]

It also doesn't help that all the dragonriders and dragonkeepers took their secrets to the grave. There's not even a scrap of paper about Old Valyria from the Targaryens or magic.

[@happilyevernever4289]

3:39 i don't understand this part. Are Targaryans just allowed to try to mount any dragon of their will? I thought they would make sure most powerful ones goes to the ones in power or at the very least didn't fall in the hands of those who could challenge the ones in power.

[@anthonyt219]

I believe george has a great sense of horror. The fear of the unknown style is always a reliable tool to make readers have a unsettling feeling. The story of blood and cheese will always creep me out.

[@johnniescastro]

I would love a spinooff of Old Valyria. OMG. I would do anything for that.

[@Aegar_Targaryen]

WE NEED A FULL SERIES, FROM DOOM OF VALYRIA TO THE TIME OF THE MAD KING... Edit : If only I had the money I would fund it...🙌

[@DizzyBusy]

However messed up the rivalry for the throne got, I think that Aenys I's children have the most normal sibling relationships compared to the other Targs. They have their fights and disagreements, but when a sister is missing her daughter, they don't turn her away in spite. Other Targs would have stopped speaking to each other altogether

[@Silverfirefly1]

Doomed Valyria aside, no one should want to share any personal space with the kind of parasites a dragon would have. Even whale lice have a face like a multifunction can-opener.