WARNING! This article contains MAJOR spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!
Summary
As theGame of Thronesfranchise finally returns to Winterfell,House of the Dragonseason 2 leaves out some massive details in the deal struck between the Starks and Targaryens. With Winterfell arguably being the most familiar location throughoutGame of Thrones’ eight seasons, I waseagerly awaiting the return to House Stark’s homeinHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s new episodes. While the Wall and castles of Winterfell are just as epic in the prequel show as they were in the original series, the short return to the North left out the aspects of Jacaerys Velaryon and Cregan Stark’s meeting that I was most excited to see.
The opening sequence ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 1 features Lord Cregan Starktelling Prince Jacaerys Velaryon the history of the Night’s Watch in Winterfell and the Wall. As they ride to the top of the Wall, Cregan reveals that it keeps out “death,” not simply poor weather and wildlings. The brief scene ends as a raven brings news of Lucerys’ death, andJace later reveals to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen that Cregan pledged the North’s support and 2,000 “greybeards” to her cause. As exciting as it was to see House Stark again, I can’t help but be disappointed that the series left out their terms in the Pact of Ice & Fire.
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The Pact Of Ice & Fire Explained: The Deal Cregan & Jacaerys Make
Cregan & Jacaerys make a pact that HOTD season 2, episode 1 doesn’t show
WhatHouse of the Dragondoesn’t show in its triumphant return to Winterfell is the deal that is made byLord Cregan Starkand Jacaerys Velaryon in order for Team Black to earn the North’s support. After spending time sealing a bond of brotherhood, hunting, and drinking together,Jacaerys and Cregan seal the Pact of Ice & Firebefore the heir to the Iron Throne departs from Winterfell. This isn’t the only major detail about Jace and Cregan’s meeting fromFire & Bloodthat is left out ofHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 premiere, but its omission is notable given the themes that bind the houses together inGame of Throneshistory.
According to George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook, the terms in the Pact of Ice & Fire include that in exchange for Cregan’s support and the North’s forces,the firstborn daughter of Jacaerys would marry Cregan’s firstborn son and heir to Winterfell. Cregan’s son Rickon Stark was only a toddler when the pact was signed, and it was expected that Jacaerys and Baela Targaryen would soon have children given their betrothal and the need to extend Rhaenyra’s bloodline. While Cregan needed the majority of his men and resources in Winterfell to prepare for the winter, he agreed to send a group of 2,000Northern soldiers known as the Winter Wolves.
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Consequently, while the events beforeHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 1’s endingreveal the greybeard soldiers promised by Cregan, the HBO prequel leaves out the important details of the marriage pact made between the Starks and Targaryens. It’sunclear exactly why the Pact of Ice & Fire was omitted, but it was likely due to time constraintsgiven how much narrative was condensed into just the first episode alone. Additionally, since Jacaerys and Baela have still yet to marry, the future pacts of marriage for their potential children isn’t an urgent concern.
Is The Pact Of Ice & Fire Ever Fulfilled In HOTD Or Game Of Thrones?
The pact is technically fulfilled just before Game of Thrones' timeline
While Jacaerys Velaryon swore to marry his firstborn daughter to Cregan Stark’s eldest son, thePact of Ice & Fire is never actually fulfilled inHouse of the Dragon.Fire & Bloodreveals thatHouse of the DragoncharacterJacaerys Velaryon dies at the Battle of the Gulletin the Dance of the Dragons, long before he could either marry Baela or have children with her. Cregan could have petitioned to Rhaenyra to transfer the oath made by Jacaerys to her next heir, but Joffrey Velaryon would die not long after his eldest brother. Additionally, at the same time as Jacaerys’ death, Rhaenyra’s youngest son, Viserys, goes missing.
Cregan Stark’s eldest son, Rickon, marries Jeyne Manderly inFire & Blood.
The Pact of Ice & Fire being unfulfilled inHouse of the Dragonultimately makes sense, as the only known surviving child of Rhaenyra Targaryen at the end of the war is her son Aegon III Targaryen, who is only about six years old when the fighting begins. Consequently, Aegon is about the same age as Cregan’s eldest son Rickon, meaningRickon would likely need to find a different betrothal long before Aegon III could even begin to have childrenand a daughter of his own. Interestingly, no Stark son and Targaryen daughter would ever marry inHouse of the DragonorGame of Thrones.
Considering Cregan and Jacaerys’ pact would have culminated in a Stark child with Targaryen blood ruling from Winterfell, this dream would – at least briefly – be realized through Jon Snow becoming the King in the North inGame of Thrones.
Rather, theclosest the Pact of Ice & Fire came to being fulfilled was when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen married Lyanna StarkbeforeGame of Thrones’ timeline. Of course, the two only had a secret marriage before she gave birth to their sonJon Snow, whose real name is Aegon VI Targaryen. Considering Cregan and Jacaerys’ pact would have culminated in a Stark child with Targaryen blood ruling from Winterfell, this dream would – at least briefly – be realized through Jon Snow becoming the King in the North inGame of Thrones.
House Of The Dragon Should’ve Shown The Pact Of Ice & Fire
Aegon’s dream makes the Stark & Targaryen pact even more important
After readingFire & Bloodahead ofHouse of the Dragon’s release, one moment that I couldn’t wait to see on the small screen was the Pact of Ice & Fire. While I understand why the show may have cut the Sara Snow subplot, rumors of Vermax laying eggs in the crypts of Winterfell, and Cregan and Jacaerys’ hunting and drinking,I’m shocked that the pact itself wasn’t shown. Not only is this an important part of establishing House Stark and House Targaryen’s loyalty to one another throughout the Dance of the Dragons, but it’s also intertwined with the franchise’s themes andAegon’s Song of Ice and Fire dream.
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The reveal about Aegon’s dream foreseeing theWhite Walkers inHouse of the Dragonseason 1gave a prophetic connection to Houses Stark and Targaryen inGame of Thrones.In Aegon’s dream, “Ice” is simultaneously representative of the Starks and White Walkers and “Fire” symbolizes the Targaryens and dragnos. While there’s debate over whether thePrince That Was Promised is Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen, or both, I believe that Jon Snow plays a bigger role given he represents both Ice and Fire as a product of Houses Stark and Targaryen. When the Pact of Ice & Fire thatHouse of the Dragoncut was finally fulfilled, it bore the ruler that would fulfill Aegon’s dream.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
