Who Hatched the Last Dragon?

[asongofheresy]

The last dragon died in 153 AC during the reign of Aegon III, it was small and mishapen but lived long enough to laid a clutch of five eggs before dying and those eggs never hatched. It was rumored that Aegon III himself poisoned the last dragon, but who did the last dragon belong to? Whose dragon hatched after the Dance? We have children of Aegon III and Viserys II as candidates. Let's cross out who wouldn't hatched the dragon first. 

Aegon IV - gave his dragon egg to Lord Butterwell (why?)

Baelor I - prayed for his egg to hatch we have no information his egg did hatched

Eleana - had an egg that matched her hair color, no information that it hatched

Naerys - was pious and wanted to be Septa, possibly had an egg like all Targaryen children but I don't think it hatched and Naerys wouldn't want it to hatch imo

Rhaena - was similar to Naerys in personality and was devout to Faith so I don't think Rhaena was a hatcher 

Daeron I - Daeron boasted he was the dragon of House Targaryen and was called the Young Dragon so it is possible Daeron wasn't able to hatch his dragon and if he did he will surely make sure it wasn't poisoned and use his dragon during his invasion

Aemon the Dragonknight - like Daeron, Aemon carried dragon as a name but he was also pious in nature and I think Targaryens uses faith and devotion to distance themselves from their dragon blood and traditions like incest, there is also the possibility that dragon hatchers are female and not the men of the family

So who is the mysterious hatcher of the Last Dragon? 

DAENA. 

Targaryen to the bone, willful and warrior like Visenya was, Daena commented how she was born to ride a dragon and wore a dragon pendant she never took of. She was eight when the last dragon died and was old enough to ride it, she was also one of the sisters of Baelor to actively escape Maidenvault. And it make sense for Aegon to poison the dragon if he was afraid for his daughter's safety and trying to ask for forgiveness by giving her the pendant. If Daena was the last hatcher than that means Daemon and Blackfyres could hatch a dragon too and would explain why Targaryens kept failing in their attempts until Daenerys hmm.... 

Do you guys think it is possible the Last Dragon belong to Daena? Do you have your own candidate about the mysterious dragon hatcher? 

[The hairy bear]

A Targaryen is not needed for a dragon to be hatched. We see many examples of dragons that were born without their eggs having been given to a Targaryen before hatching (Caraxes, Sheepstealer, Cannibal, Grey Ghost,... ). So I guess it's not unlikley that the last dragon wasn't owned by anyone.

We should not forget about the aversion to dragons that Aegon III had. In Fire and Blood, we are told: "When Aegon commanded that no dragon’s eggs were to be allowed in his castle, Viserys grew most wroth. Yet the king’s will prevailed, as it must; the egg was sent to Dragonstone"

So, in all likelyhood, Aegon III's sons didn't receive dragon egg's at birth. We know that Elaena eventually had one, but this would be after the last dragon was dead: Elaena was 3 at 153 AC, 7 when his father dies, and 11 when she is closed at the Maidenvault. I'd assume her brother Daeron gave it to her after her father's death.

Viserys' sons were all born during his brothers reign, so if they were born in King's Landing, they wouldn't receive dragon eggs either.

3 hours ago, Jova Snow said:

Aegon IV - gave his dragon egg to Lord Butterwell (why?)

Aegon gave an egg away when he was already king, many decades after the last egg hatched. As a king, he probably had access to many dragon eggs. We are told that he gave it in exchange for the maidenhood of Butterwell's three daughters'.

 

[asongofheresy]

1 hour ago, The hairy bear said:

A Targaryen is not needed for a dragon to be hatched. We see many examples of dragons that were born without their eggs having been given to a Targaryen before hatching (Caraxes, Sheepstealer, Cannibal, Grey Ghost,... ). So I guess it's not unlikley that the last dragon wasn't owned by anyone.

We should not forget about the aversion to dragons that Aegon III had. In Fire and Blood, we are told: "When Aegon commanded that no dragon’s eggs were to be allowed in his castle, Viserys grew most wroth. Yet the king’s will prevailed, as it must; the egg was sent to Dragonstone"

So, in all likelyhood, Aegon III's sons didn't receive dragon egg's at birth. We know that Elaena eventually had one, but this would be after the last dragon was dead: Elaena was 3 at 153 AC, 7 when his father dies, and 11 when she is closed at the Maidenvault. I'd assume her brother Daeron gave it to her after her father's death.

Viserys' sons were all born during his brothers reign, so if they were born in King's Landing, they wouldn't receive dragon eggs either.

Aegon gave an egg away when he was already king, many decades after the last egg hatched. As a king, he probably had access to many dragon eggs. We are told that he gave it in exchange for the maidenhood of Butterwell's three daughters'.

 

Didn't read F&B interesting Aegon's fear of dragons prevented a Targaryen tradition, though a Targaryen does not seem to be needed we can't say if Valyrian blood isn't needed for dragon hatching - that's why I was thinking one of the children might hatch the last dragon. 

[Moiraine Sedai]

Dragons hatch on their own.  Miracles were not needed.  To bring them back from extinction is another matter that only Daenerys has the power to do.

[asongofheresy]

1 hour ago, Moiraine Sedai said:

Dragons hatch on their own.  Miracles were not needed.  To bring them back from extinction is another matter that only Daenerys has the power to do.

Then why did Targaryens started the tradition to put eggs in cradles? Dragon eggs are chicken eggs if nothing was needed than eggs of the last dragon will hatch too. 

[The hairy bear]

Fire and Blood explains that the tradition started when Rhaena Targaryen, the first daughter of king Aenys, put eggs in the craddle of her little siblings Jaehaerys and Alysanne. But before that, dragons hatched all the same: Rhaena herself had been given Dreamfyre as a hatchling when she was 9.

I suppose that putting eggs in craddles had the advantage of ensuring that the newborn connected with the dragon at the earliest age. We see an example of a Targaryen princess that was afraid of dragons and didn't become a dragonrider. That would have been avoided if she had been given the dragon when she was a baby.

But we see that eggs can hatch without need of human intervention. For instance, the savage dragons at the Dragonmount that we meet before the Dance of Dragons (Cannibal, Sheepstealer, Grey Ghost) were never ridden by anyone.

[asongofheresy]

2 hours ago, The hairy bear said:

Fire and Blood explains that the tradition started when Rhaena Targaryen, the first daughter of king Aenys, put eggs in the craddle of her little siblings Jaehaerys and Alysanne. But before that, dragons hatched all the same: Rhaena herself had been given Dreamfyre as a hatchling when she was 9.

I suppose that putting eggs in craddles had the advantage of ensuring that the newborn connected with the dragon at the earliest age. We see an example of a Targaryen princess that was afraid of dragons and didn't become a dragonrider. That would have been avoided if she had been given the dragon when she was a baby.

But we see that eggs can hatch without need of human intervention. For instance, the savage dragons at the Dragonmount that we meet before the Dance of Dragons (Cannibal, Sheepstealer, Grey Ghost) were never ridden by anyone.

Okay but is it still possible for Daena to bound with the hatchling/the last dragon despite Aegon III? What made her so sure she was born to ride a dragon without an interaction with one? 

[The hairy bear]

It is possible, I guess. His father had forbidden dragon eggs in the Red Keep, and Daena was only 8 when the last dragon died. But he could have reversed his decision in his late years, overcoming his panic of dragons. Or Daena could have smuggled into the Dragonpit to bond with a dragon without his father's permission (although we are told that she 'worshipped' his father).

But I wouldn't bet on it.

[Lord Varys]

Aegon III's recorded behavior make it not unlikely at all that he actually did poison the remaining dragons - or was at least complicit in the poisoning plot, signing off on it or keeping the truth from Viserys after he uncovered it.

6 hours ago, The hairy bear said:

So, in all likelyhood, Aegon III's sons didn't receive dragon egg's at birth. We know that Elaena eventually had one, but this would be after the last dragon was dead: Elaena was 3 at 153 AC, 7 when his father dies, and 11 when she is closed at the Maidenvault. I'd assume her brother Daeron gave it to her after her father's death.

Don't think this is necessary. For some reason, Aegon IV did get a dragon egg in his cradle, and Queen Daenaera was a dragon fan, too. We would have to wait and see how exactly the policy on dragon eggs was at the time the children were born.

With Aemond's son on the loose - and with him supposedly having a dragon - chances are not that bad that either Viserys or Baela have to claim the Cannibal, Silverwing, or one of dragons that may hatch in the future to deal with that pretender. The Broken King would not prevail if he were ever challenged by a trueborn Targaryen dragonrider, one assumes. Rhaena and Morning could be an asset, but two dragons are better than one. And three better than two.

This could even become a greater issue if Aemond's son didn't have a dragon yet - and were to claim either the Cannibal or Silverwing (who should both be available to daring adventurers in their respective lairs). Then Morning alone cannot really hope to prevail against such a large beast.

Not to mention that dragonriders could also have Aegon III to deal with the fake Daerons - who, if they have obscure dragonlord blood, could also claim one of the riderless dragons.

6 hours ago, The hairy bear said:

Viserys' sons were all born during his brothers reign, so if they were born in King's Landing, they wouldn't receive dragon eggs either.

They did, though. FaB makes that clear. In fact, Aegon III sending Viserys' dragon egg to Dragonstone and the fact that Aegon and Aemon got dragon eggs seem to be a contradiction - one that has been pointed out to George.

2 hours ago, The hairy bear said:

I suppose that putting eggs in craddles had the advantage of ensuring that the newborn connected with the dragon at the earliest age. We see an example of a Targaryen princess that was afraid of dragons and didn't become a dragonrider. That would have been avoided if she had been given the dragon when she was a baby.

This is not just a supposition. It is actually confirmed by FaB:

Quote

There were more dragons than ever before as well, and several of the she-dragons were regularly producing clutches of eggs. Not all of these eggs hatched, but many did, and it became customary for the fathers and mothers of newborn princelings to place a dragon’s egg in their cradles, following a tradition that Princess Rhaena had begun many years before; the children so blessed invariably bonded with the hatchlings to become dragonriders.

The bold implies that it is very sure thing that a Targaryen having a dragon hatched from such a cradle egg later successfully claims said dragon. Unlike, apparently, dragons they are given later in life or they try to claim after the death of a previous rider...

The odd thing is that this tradition started by Rhaena was apparently not followed by her siblings (Jaehaerys and Alysanne supposedly gave a dragon egg only to Aemon, and his dragon, Caraxes, did not hatch from that egg) nor the children of her siblings - the dragons of Jaehaerys' grandchildren don't come from dragon eggs from their cradle, either. Rhaenys took Alyssa's Meleys after her death, Viserys old Balerion, and Daemon Aemon's Caraxes after his uncle's death.

None of Jaehaerys' daughters (nor his son Vaegon) could have had dragon eggs that hatch since both Saera and Viserra would have then had dragons at the time of death/exile - as would have Maegelle, Vaegon, and Daella (never mind whether she was afraid of dragons or not).

Laena Velaryon also didn't get a dragon from a dragon egg, since her dragon was mighty Vhagar, claimed only after Baelon's death in 101 AC (presumably after the Great Council). Helaena's Dreamfyre didn't come from a dragon egg, either, nor did Aegon's Sunfyre (who is confirmed to have hatched on Dragonstone).

Perhaps Seasmoke and Syrax come from eggs put in the cradles of Laenor and Rhaenyra, respectively, but they could also have been given hatchlings.

The first Targaryen who are confirmed to have been given eggs in the cradles who hatched after Jaehaerys and Alysanne - and remember that this is just a story! - were Rhaenyra's sons and, presumably, Prince Daeron (Aemond apparently didn't get a dragon egg, either). Aegon II's children also got dragon eggs in their cradles, as did Daemon's daughters by Laena and later Viserys II's sons (supposedly) and Alyn Velaryon's daughter by Baela Targaryen.

The latter implies that Rhaena's six daughters may all have gotten dragon eggs, too, considering the mother was a dragonrider. As may have the younger children of Alyn and Baela (assuming the story about Laena's monstrous dragon didn't give them pause).

If Alys Rivers' son does have a dragon at Harrenhal, he may have been given an egg by his mother, too - an egg produced by Vhagar before her death.

By the way - I think I recall @The Grey Wolf not liking it that no Targaryen died during an attempt to claim a dragon. I think that was a good call considering such a thing may have led to a significant drop in the number of future dragonriders. If you lose a child in an attempt to claim a dragon you may not exactly be inclined to allow your other young children to try to claim a dragon, too.

And the Aerea case is dubious enough to not exactly be seen as a dragon mastering its rider. We have no reason to assume Aerea wanted to fly to a place in Westeros after she first mounted Balerion. And it was Balerion who got her out of Valyria later on.

[asongofheresy]

11 hours ago, Lord Varys said:

Aegon III's recorded behavior make it not unlikely at all that he actually did poison the remaining dragons - or was at least complicit in the poisoning plot, signing off on it or keeping the truth from Viserys after he uncovered it.

Don't think this is necessary. For some reason, Aegon IV did get a dragon egg in his cradle, and Queen Daenaera was a dragon fan, too. We would have to wait and see how exactly the policy on dragon eggs was at the time the children were born.

With Aemond's son on the loose - and with him supposedly having a dragon - chances are not that bad that either Viserys or Baela have to claim the Cannibal, Silverwing, or one of dragons that may hatch in the future to deal with that pretender. The Broken King would not prevail if he were ever challenged by a trueborn Targaryen dragonrider, one assumes. Rhaena and Morning could be an asset, but two dragons are better than one. And three better than two.

This could even become a greater issue if Aemond's son didn't have a dragon yet - and were to claim either the Cannibal or Silverwing (who should both be available to daring adventurers in their respective lairs). Then Morning alone cannot really hope to prevail against such a large beast.

Not to mention that dragonriders could also have Aegon III to deal with the fake Daerons - who, if they have obscure dragonlord blood, could also claim one of the riderless dragons.

They did, though. FaB makes that clear. In fact, Aegon III sending Viserys' dragon egg to Dragonstone and the fact that Aegon and Aemon got dragon eggs seem to be a contradiction - one that has been pointed out to George.

This is not just a supposition. It is actually confirmed by FaB:

The bold implies that it is very sure thing that a Targaryen having a dragon hatched from such a cradle egg later successfully claims said dragon. Unlike, apparently, dragons they are given later in life or they try to claim after the death of a previous rider...

The odd thing is that this tradition started by Rhaena was apparently not followed by her siblings (Jaehaerys and Alysanne supposedly gave a dragon egg only to Aemon, and his dragon, Caraxes, did not hatch from that egg) nor the children of her siblings - the dragons of Jaehaerys' grandchildren don't come from dragon eggs from their cradle, either. Rhaenys took Alyssa's Meleys after her death, Viserys old Balerion, and Daemon Aemon's Caraxes after his uncle's death.

None of Jaehaerys' daughters (nor his son Vaegon) could have had dragon eggs that hatch since both Saera and Viserra would have then had dragons at the time of death/exile - as would have Maegelle, Vaegon, and Daella (never mind whether she was afraid of dragons or not).

Laena Velaryon also didn't get a dragon from a dragon egg, since her dragon was mighty Vhagar, claimed only after Baelon's death in 101 AC (presumably after the Great Council). Helaena's Dreamfyre didn't come from a dragon egg, either, nor did Aegon's Sunfyre (who is confirmed to have hatched on Dragonstone).

Perhaps Seasmoke and Syrax come from eggs put in the cradles of Laenor and Rhaenyra, respectively, but they could also have been given hatchlings.

The first Targaryen who are confirmed to have been given eggs in the cradles who hatched after Jaehaerys and Alysanne - and remember that this is just a story! - were Rhaenyra's sons and, presumably, Prince Daeron (Aemond apparently didn't get a dragon egg, either). Aegon II's children also got dragon eggs in their cradles, as did Daemon's daughters by Laena and later Viserys II's sons (supposedly) and Alyn Velaryon's daughter by Baela Targaryen.

The latter implies that Rhaena's six daughters may all have gotten dragon eggs, too, considering the mother was a dragonrider. As may have the younger children of Alyn and Baela (assuming the story about Laena's monstrous dragon didn't give them pause).

If Alys Rivers' son does have a dragon at Harrenhal, he may have been given an egg by his mother, too - an egg produced by Vhagar before her death.

By the way - I think I recall @The Grey Wolf not liking it that no Targaryen died during an attempt to claim a dragon. I think that was a good call considering such a thing may have led to a significant drop in the number of future dragonriders. If you lose a child in an attempt to claim a dragon you may not exactly be inclined to allow your other young children to try to claim a dragon, too.

And the Aerea case is dubious enough to not exactly be seen as a dragon mastering its rider. We have no reason to assume Aerea wanted to fly to a place in Westeros after she first mounted Balerion. And it was Balerion who got her out of Valyria later on.

Is it possible for Aemond's son to really have a dragon? And is it possible for him to rule Harrenhall and found his own house instead of challenging Targaryens since he wouldn't be counted as a trueborn no matter what Alys says. 

@The hairy bear it is indeed interesting Daena had a close relationship with her father but it may started later in life when she was gifted the pendant and Aegon III explained to her why the lat dragon had to die? As a child and considering her character, I don't expect Daena to be close to her father since she also loves and idolize Daeron, I would say there were cracks between father and daughter especially with Daena's unnecessary af marriage to Baelor. 

[The hairy bear]

13 hours ago, Lord Varys said:

Aegon III sending Viserys' dragon egg to Dragonstone and the fact that Aegon and Aemon got dragon eggs seem to be a contradiction - one that has been pointed out to George.

I don't see Aegon IV's egg problematic, as his birth takes place before Aegon III decides to banish dragon eggs from KL. The text doesn't specifically mention it, but one could assume that Aegon IV's egg was sent to Dragonstone along with Viserys'.

But Aemon's egg certainly is a contradiction. Since he was born right after the siege in Maegor's Holdfast and the Rogaro trials, there's the possibility that Viserys just ignored his brother's wishes and/or Aegon III let it go.

13 hours ago, Lord Varys said:

With Aemond's son on the loose - and with him supposedly having a dragon - chances are not that bad that either Viserys or Baela have to claim the Cannibal, Silverwing, or one of dragons that may hatch in the future to deal with that pretender. The Broken King would not prevail if he were ever challenged by a trueborn Targaryen dragonrider, one assumes. Rhaena and Morning could be an asset, but two dragons are better than one. And three better than two.

This could even become a greater issue if Aemond's son didn't have a dragon yet - and were to claim either the Cannibal or Silverwing (who should both be available to daring adventurers in their respective lairs). Then Morning alone cannot really hope to prevail against such a large beast.

It's certainly a possibility. Morning, Silverwing and Cannibal have to die somehow, after all.

Still, I'm not sure I see Aegon III giving dragon eggs to his children. Even in a situation of conflict. When he forces Viserys to send his egg away, they could have use an additional dragon too (Jaehaera had just been murdered, and the relation with the regents was complicated). I think he'd rather ask Rhaena to risk her life fighting alone, or allow someone else to claim Silverwing or Cannibal, than allow new dragons to be born. (hatchlings, after all, would be of little use in an immediate situation of crisis).

13 hours ago, Lord Varys said:

By the way - I think I recall @The Grey Wolf not liking it that no Targaryen died during an attempt to claim a dragon. I think that was a good call considering such a thing may have led to a significant drop in the number of future dragonriders.

Perhaps Queen Daenaera could be candidate to die trying to claim a Dragon (Silverwing or Cannibal). She has to die young, and George has already laid the grounds by leting as know that she wants a dragon. Her death would be the final nail in the coffin in Aegon III's resolution to end with them.

2 hours ago, Jova Snow said:

Is it possible for Aemond's son to really have a dragon? And is it possible for him to rule Harrenhall and found his own house instead of challenging Targaryens since he wouldn't be counted as a trueborn no matter what Alys says.

Aegon III will give Harrenhal to Lucas Lothston in 151 AC. Fire and Blood ends in 136. During those 15 years it's possible that Alys claims Harrenhal in the name of her son, but the Targaryens surely will fight them.

But I don't think it's really likely than Aemond's son has a dragon. Even if Vhagar had laid eggs, those eggs should have been fertilized by a male dragon at some point. And Vhagar had not been close to any other dragon since Aemond left King's Landing, months ago.

Moreover, in most hermaphroditic species, the most dominant animals are the ones that assume the role of males. It seems that with dragons it's the same, since Balerion was male while Meraxes and Vhagar females. However, during the Dance, Vhagar would be the dominant dragon, and therefore I'd imagine that it would assume the male role, and would not lay eggs at all.

2 hours ago, Jova Snow said:

 

@The hairy bear it is indeed interesting Daena had a close relationship with her father but it may started later in life when she was gifted the pendant and Aegon III explained to her why the lat dragon had to die? As a child and considering her character, I don't expect Daena to be close to her father since she also loves and idolize Daeron, I would say there were cracks between father and daughter especially with Daena's unnecessary af marriage to Baelor. 

I see Daena as someone with a deep Oedipus complex. Possibly because his father was so incapable of affection, she felt attracted to him. When he died, he felt attracted to his older brother. And after Daeron died and Baelor rejected her, she fell for Aegon, his older cousin. It seems as she fell in love with all the father figures that she had around.

[asongofheresy]

4 hours ago, The hairy bear said:

I don't see Aegon IV's egg problematic, as his birth takes place before Aegon III decides to banish dragon eggs from KL. The text doesn't specifically mention it, but one could assume that Aegon IV's egg was sent to Dragonstone along with Viserys'.

But Aemon's egg certainly is a contradiction. Since he was born right after the siege in Maegor's Holdfast and the Rogaro trials, there's the possibility that Viserys just ignored his brother's wishes and/or Aegon III let it go.

It's certainly a possibility. Morning, Silverwing and Cannibal have to die somehow, after all.

Still, I'm not sure I see Aegon III giving dragon eggs to his children. Even in a situation of conflict. When he forces Viserys to send his egg away, they could have use an additional dragon too (Jaehaera had just been murdered, and the relation with the regents was complicated). I think he'd rather ask Rhaena to risk her life fighting alone, or allow someone else to claim Silverwing or Cannibal, than allow new dragons to be born. (hatchlings, after all, would be of little use in an immediate situation of crisis).

Perhaps Queen Daenaera could be candidate to die trying to claim a Dragon (Silverwing or Cannibal). She has to die young, and George has already laid the grounds by leting as know that she wants a dragon. Her death would be the final nail in the coffin in Aegon III's resolution to end with them.

Aegon III will give Harrenhal to Lucas Lothston in 151 AC. Fire and Blood ends in 136. During those 15 years it's possible that Alys claims Harrenhal in the name of her son, but the Targaryens surely will fight them.

But I don't think it's really likely than Aemond's son has a dragon. Even if Vhagar had laid eggs, those eggs should have been fertilized by a male dragon at some point. And Vhagar had not been close to any other dragon since Aemond left King's Landing, months ago.

Moreover, in most hermaphroditic species, the most dominant animals are the ones that assume the role of males. It seems that with dragons it's the same, since Balerion was male while Meraxes and Vhagar females. However, during the Dance, Vhagar would be the dominant dragon, and therefore I'd imagine that it would assume the male role, and would not lay eggs at all.

I see Daena as someone with a deep Oedipus complex. Possibly because his father was so incapable of affection, she felt attracted to him. When he died, he felt attracted to his older brother. And after Daeron died and Baelor rejected her, she fell for Aegon, his older cousin. It seems as she fell in love with all the father figures that she had around.

I don't think Daena was attracted to Aegon - Daeron yes but not the Unworthy, I think Aegon/Daena seduction happens because Daena is a threat to Aegon as she will be heir after Baelor, I don't know if Aegon III changed laws of inheritance after Dance but beside having no allies after years she spent in Maidenvault and having a bastard son, Daena could be Queen in an AU. *shrug emoji* 

[PrinceoftheTides]

in my opinion the dates gives by GRRM leave too short time for a 'natural' extintion given that we still have at least three sane dragons, even excluding Sheepstealer. 

Of course the maesters plot could simply dismiss them by poisoning (although so far it has not been written that dragons could be poisoned).

Silverwing is the most accessible to poisoned food since she's wild near Red Lake and, as far as we know, unguarded.

The Cannibal could die by natural causes given his age or just disappear (unlikely that the maesters have the influence to act with such impunity on Dragonstone unless they have the backing of the king).*

That leaves Morning that, by the end of Fire and Blood, has just grown enough to carry a rider flying and by no accounts seems to be malformed or crippled. She also has to die in some accident or fight/rebellion because otherwise she would have grown and aged more or less like the other dragons before the Dance. However, we have to consider the fate of Princess Rhaena too in those assumptions.

 

If I remember well Tyrion told that there were at least two small skulls of dragons, who correspond at least at three hatchlings that survived the first years (which excluded Laena's Velaryon craddle wyrm). Also the last dragon (was it described as green, thus exluding Morning, which was pink) produced some eggs, so she might have had a mate.

 

*On second thought, since the last dragons hatched on Dragonstone (probably naturally), we could assume that the maesters plot would involve gathering influence and space for manouver at Dragonstone. So if might be possible they were backed by Aegon III, at least initially since we also had sources that he tried to hatch some eggs after their exinction

[asongofheresy]

2 hours ago, PrinceoftheTides said:

in my opinion the dates gives by GRRM leave too short time for a 'natural' extintion given that we still have at least three sane dragons, even excluding Sheepstealer. 

Of course the maesters plot could simply dismiss them by poisoning (although so far it has not been written that dragons could be poisoned).

Silverwing is the most accessible to poisoned food since she's wild near Red Lake and, as far as we know, unguarded.

The Cannibal could die by natural causes given his age or just disappear (unlikely that the maesters have the influence to act with such impunity on Dragonstone unless they have the backing of the king).*

That leaves Morning that, by the end of Fire and Blood, has just grown enough to carry a rider flying and by no accounts seems to be malformed or crippled. She also has to die in some accident or fight/rebellion because otherwise she would have grown and aged more or less like the other dragons before the Dance. However, we have to consider the fate of Princess Rhaena too in those assumptions.

 

If I remember well Tyrion told that there were at least two small skulls of dragons, who correspond at least at three hatchlings that survived the first years (which excluded Laena's Velaryon craddle wyrm). Also the last dragon (was it described as green, thus exluding Morning, which was pink) produced some eggs, so she might have had a mate.

 

*On second thought, since the last dragons hatched on Dragonstone (probably naturally), we could assume that the maesters plot would involve gathering influence and space for manouver at Dragonstone. So if might be possible they were backed by Aegon III, at least initially since we also had sources that he tried to hatch some eggs after their exinction

What could be the reason for Aegon to back Maesters to get rid of dragons only to try to bring them back? 

[PrinceoftheTides]

Well, he could have had a change of heart regarding them after the exinction and the results of the loss of the dragons as a source of power/legitimacy for the dinasty. Maybe Viserys convinced him that they were necessary or he could have seen respect and obedience from other houses to become less 'obvious' than before, after all losing dragons means that you do not have medioeval equivalent to superweapon to use to crush rebellions.

But, again, it is only an assumption that he backed or at least not opposed the maester's plan to eliminate dragons (a subplot that, to be honest, we only know about because of a phrase of Marwyn).

Surely, according to FaB he was really hostile to Morning, even though it was only an hatchling and the last dragon in Targaryen's control.

[asongofheresy]

1 hour ago, PrinceoftheTides said:

Well, he could have had a change of heart regarding them after the exinction and the results of the loss of the dragons as a source of power/legitimacy for the dinasty. Maybe Viserys convinced him that they were necessary or he could have seen respect and obedience from other houses to become less 'obvious' than before, after all losing dragons means that you do not have medioeval equivalent to superweapon to use to crush rebellions.

But, again, it is only an assumption that he backed or at least not opposed the maester's plan to eliminate dragons (a subplot that, to be honest, we only know about because of a phrase of Marwyn).

Surely, according to FaB he was really hostile to Morning, even though it was only an hatchling and the last dragon in Targaryen's control.

Well I am sure Aegon III soon realized the only reason the realm didn't saif F*** it and rebelled was because of the dragons but I don't agree dragons was a source of legitimacy especially with Nettles and the fact no Targaryen could hatch a dragon until Daenerys. Now people seem to think Daenerys is a real Targaryen for hatching them compared to Aegon although dragon hatching should be a mystical incident. I do agree Maesters plan doesn't seem to be important but I think it is going to be explained more to the reader in TWOW.

[Moiraine Sedai]

On 1/2/2019 at 9:33 AM, Jova Snow said:

Then why did Targaryens started the tradition to put eggs in cradles? Dragon eggs are chicken eggs if nothing was needed than eggs of the last dragon will hatch too. 

To increase the chances of bonding.  The eggs are not incubated by humans.  Rhaenyra's ample bottom is not going to produce any useful heat. 

The dragons of later years got progressively weaker.  Perhaps as a reflection of the family becoming weaker.  I.E., the blood becoming less pure.  Me, I think it's because of the unnatural conditions of the way they were kept.  Dragons are not horses that should be kept in stables.  A constant diet of beef lacked variety.  Beef, bfag, how downright boring.  Dragons ate krakens and god knows what other delicacies in the wild.  And volcanoes.  Maybe they grow hardier if they have access to volcanoes.

[asongofheresy]

3 hours ago, Moiraine Sedai said:

To increase the chances of bonding.  The eggs are not incubated by humans.  Rhaenyra's ample bottom is not going to produce any useful heat. 

The dragons of later years got progressively weaker.  Perhaps as a reflection of the family becoming weaker.  I.E., the blood becoming less pure.  Me, I think it's because of the unnatural conditions of the way they were kept.  Dragons are not horses that should be kept in stables.  A constant diet of beef lacked variety.  Beef, bfag, how downright boring.  Dragons ate krakens and god knows what other delicacies in the wild.  And volcanoes.  Maybe they grow hardier if they have access to volcanoes.

Well Dragonstone surely plays a part and we know Drogo is the biggest because he is free unlike other dragons but I do not think Targaryen blood become weakrr until Daeron's marriage to Myriah because all other previous Targaryen marriages seems to be between Targaryens and other Valyrians with the exception of Maegor (not counting Rhaena) and Daella? 

[PrinceoftheTides]

16 hours ago, Jova Snow said:

Well I am sure Aegon III soon realized the only reason the realm didn't saif F*** it and rebelled was because of the dragons but I don't agree dragons was a source of legitimacy especially with Nettles and the fact no Targaryen could hatch a dragon until Daenerys. Now people seem to think Daenerys is a real Targaryen for hatching them compared to Aegon although dragon hatching should be a mystical incident. I do agree Maesters plan doesn't seem to be important but I think it is going to be explained more to the reader in TWOW.

Uhm, for me legitimacy for the dinasty and dragons were still quite related at the time, or at least were perceived to be important.

In F&B it is written that a major problem for Aegon II and the greens after the death of Rhaenyra was that the blacks still had one dragon, although just an hatchling (Morning), which was considered a strong symbol of legitimacy.

Nettles was, at least officiallly, presented as a dragoseed by the blacks, so her not-targ background was not publicly known

 

But indeed you're right, the connection between dragons and legitimacy faded away after some time, with the Targ becoming more or less like other houses (execpt their incest-habits) in terms of legitimacy to rule over others (I mean just as the Stark ruled the North because they defeated the other petty kings in days of old)

[Morte]

21 hours ago, Jova Snow said:

What could be the reason for Aegon to back Maesters to get rid of dragons only to try to bring them back? 

What if the campaign against dragons was build on lies the Maesters knew would fall on fertile ground with the king? A mistake he realised just as it was too late?

See: It always bothered me that we don't have reports about the wild dragons of Dragonstone hunting humans. Sure, Sheepstealer was a nuisance because of his habit to steal sheep, and he may have roasted one or two herders bold enough to try to defend they flock; and dragons surely did defend their lairs and roast any intruder, but that's not the same as hunting humans as food.

And we also have Barristan telling us that Rhaegon and Viserion have not hunted humans since they have been loosed upon the city. They each claimed one pyramid and in this process killed the inhabitants (or at least some/most of them), but that's it.

And _then_ we have the heartbreaking story about the poor girl who may or may not have been roasted by Drogon. Is the story true? Or is it just a tale to make Dany imprison her dragons? Do we know what stories and fabricated evidence may have been involved in the Maester's plan to make the dragons go extinct - if we believe it were the Maester's doing, that is.