I’m sure the Targaryens are keeping you well-entertained, but I won’t blame you for a Stark-shaped hole in your heart. The prestigious house that was at the forefront of Game of Thrones is nowhere to be seen in House of the Dragon.
But don’t fret! Thanks to the upcoming arc of the Pact of Ice and Fire, House Stark will be a crucial part of House of the Dragon Season 2. But what exactly is this pact?
The Pact of Ice and Fire is an alliance between Jacaerys Velaryon and Cregan Stark, which ensures the Starks and the Northmen fight for Rhaenyra’s cause under the banner of the Blacks.
The pact is quite an interesting one and moreover, will shine a spotlight on the fans’ most beloved GOT house. So, let’s read about it in detail:
The Pact of Ice and Fire Explained
The Pact of Ice and Fire was made between Jacaerys Velaryon and Cregan Stark where Stark agrees to aid the Blacks during the Dance of the Dragons if Jacaerys’ firstborn marries Lord Cregan’s son and heir, Rickon.
There is still some time left before the contention between Rhaenyra and Aegon II’s claim to the throne turns into a full-blown civil war. As with any war, when this happens, each party will try to gain allies.
Rhaenyra’s camp, who were referred to as “Blacks” (as opposed to Alicent and Aegon II’s “Greens”) will try to seek out the Northmen, calling upon the favor of their ruling House, the Starks.
Rhaenyra and Leanor’s firstborn son, Jacaerys Velaryon, will fly to Winterfell to strike a deal with Cregan Stark, the current lord of the house.
There are many versions of what happened between the two. According to Grand Maester Munkun, Cregan began to regard Jacaerys as a younger brother and swore a blood oath. Septon Eustace writes that Jacaerys tried to convert Cregan to the Faith of the Seven.
The most scandalous is Mushroom’s account that stated Jacaerys secretly wed Cregan’s bastard sister, Sara, in the Godswood of Winterfell.
House of the Dragon has the liberty to choose how they portray these interactions since none of the accounts is verified to be the absolute truth. What we do know for sure is that in the end, Cregan Stark aligned himself with the Blacks.
This would ensure that the North provided men to fight in Rhaenyra’s battles as well as knights to protect her. Cregan himself would also lead a battalion to Kings Landing towards the end of the war.
Where are the Starks currently in HOTD?
Between their tough winters, being physically distant from King’s Landing, and keeping a watch out for White Walkers, the Starks were not all that interested in Targaryen politics.
Remember that while the White Walkers were simply bedtime stories to most of Westeros, it was House Stark that originally fought them and knew them to be a real threat to watch out for.
This is why they were not usually present in court unless it was for an important occasion. It was no different during House of the Dragon’s timeline too and we only see Rickon Stark present during Ep 1 where he pledges allegiance to Rhaenyra.
(Fun Fact: The Starks supported Rhaenys’ claim to the throne as well when she was pitted against Viserys. At least it’s good to know they were “progressive” for their time.)
The next we’ll see of the Starks is at the Pact of Ice and Fire, which I’ve explained above. At this point, Cregan, Rickon’s son, will have become the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.
Once Cregan Stark comes into the picture, House Stark will have a far greater role to play in House of the Dragon than they do right now. The sad part is that we may only see them in Season 2, which will release next year. As they say, good things come to those who wait.
About House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.
Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.
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