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'House of the Dragon': What is The Song of Ice and Fire?
Throughout the Game of Thrones spin-off series, we’ve heard about the Song of Ice and Fire, but what exactly does the story refer to?
‘House of the Dragon’ has become a spin-off that has managed to keep alive the mythology that ‘Game of Thrones’ fans have been living for 8 seasons. Throughout the original series, we heard the story of the Others, “Winter is coming”, “The Long Night” and the supposed heroes who would arrive in the world of Westeros to save the day in its darkest moment. However, these elements came as one of the important parts of the first episode of “House of the Dragon”, something Viserys I Targaryen introduced as“The Song of Ice & Fire”.
What is The Song of Ice and Fire?
In ‘House of the Dragon,’ this is the name given to the Targaryen family’s prophecy, known as “Aegon the Conqueror’s Dream,” which is the reason why they conquered Westeros and became the protectors that will unite the people in the face of danger.
In the series, King Viserys I recounts this story to his heiress, Princess Rhaenyra, telling her of this knowledge that all Targaryen kings have had since their arrival in Westeros:
“Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men. It’s to begin with a terrible winter, gusting out of the distant North. Aegon saw absolute darkness riding on those winds, and whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living. When this great winter comes, Rhaenyra, all of Westeros must stand against it. And if the world of men is to survive, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. A King or Queen, strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and the dark. Aegon called his dream ‘The Song of Ice and Fire.’”
Although this story originated in the spin-off series, it has the full blessing of George R.R. Martin;, Ryan J. Condal, the showrunner of the series, mentioned in an interview that “that actually came from [George]; at least the origin of that point. He told us very early on in the room, as he does. He just casually mentioned the fact that Aegon the Conqueror was a Dreamer who saw a vision of the White Walkers coming across the wall and sweeping over the land with cold and darkness. But it never made the history books, because he never told anyone. Or at least the people that he told didn’t tell the history writers.”
But isn’t that the name of the books?
No, it is similar, because, because the books are called “A Song of Ice and Fire”, there’s a small difference. In our world, that is the name of the series of books written by George R. R. Martin that inspired Game of Thrones, as well as the entire world its author created. However, neither ‘Game of Thrones’ nor the books mention this specific prophecy. Although there are other prophecies in the story, such as Azor Ahai’s prophecy, which mentions “a song of ice and fire.
We will have to wait and see if Martin will include Aegon the Conqueror’s dream in his books in the future, becoming one of the many prophecies that have been part of the series. The author has two more books to write in his series. Perhaps in the long-awaited ‘A Dream of Spring’.