Editing Dragon (section)

==Culture==
Dragons are depicted in the [[Heraldry|sigils]] of several [[List of Houses|Westerosi Houses]] and [[List of personal arms|personal arms]], such as:
<gallery mode=nolines>
House Blackfyre.svg|[[House Blackfyre]]
House Targaryen.svg|[[House Targaryen]]
House Toland.svg|[[House Toland]]
House Vance of Atranta.svg|[[House Vance of Atranta]]
House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest.svg|[[House Vance of Wayfarer's Rest]]
House Willum.svg|[[House Willum]]</gallery><gallery mode=nolines>
Aegon II Targaryen.svg|[[Aegon II Targaryen]]
Aerion Targaryen.svg|[[Aerion Targaryen]]
Brynden Rivers.svg|[[Brynden Rivers]]
Daeron Targaryen.svg|[[Daeron Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Daeron Targaryen]]
Maekar Targaryen.svg|[[Maekar I Targaryen]]
Rhaenyra Targaryen.svg|[[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
Valarr Targaryen.svg|[[Valarr Targaryen]]
</gallery>

[[Dragonbone]] is as strong as [[steel]], but lighter and far more flexible, and impervious to fire.{{Ref|AGOT|13}} It has been used to make brooches,{{Ref|AGOT|3}} bows,{{Ref|AGOT|11}}{{Ref|AGOT|13}} hilts of [[Valyrian steel dagger]]s,{{Ref|AGOT|14}} and whip handles.{{Ref|ASOS|27}} 

Dragon eggs are highly valuable, for their beauty and rarity,{{Ref|AGOT|46}} as well as their link to monarchial legitimacy and potential to hatch a dragon.{{Ref|TMK}}{{Ref|TSS}}

There are many songs and tales of legendary [[dragonslayer]]s, most existing long before dragons definitely arrived in Westeros.{{Ref|TWOIAF|7|7|2}}{{Ref|ADWD|8}}{{Ref|AFFC|20}}

===Dragonriders===
{{Main|Dragonrider}}
[[File:Queen Alysanne by Trishkell III.png|thumb|350px|Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] riding her dragon [[Silverwing]], by Emile Denis © Green Ronin Publishing]]
Dragons are intelligent creatures{{Ref|SSM|2267}} which can be trained to serve as battle mounts and understand vocal commands. They are said to be capricious in nature,{{Ref|ADWD|5}} and have to be trained to keep them from laying waste to everything around them.{{Ref|ACOK|40}} However, dragons will not allow everyone to mount them. In [[Valyria]], the noble-born dragonriding families, the [[dragonlord]] families, frequently [[Incest|married brother to sister]] to keep the bloodline pure,{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|2}} and it is generally believed that Valyrian heritage plays a part. During the civil war known as the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] called upon Targaryen [[bastard]]s and their descendants, the so-called [[dragonseeds]], to try and mount a dragon. Regardless, men without Valyrian descent made their attempts as well.{{Ref|FAB|15}} Having Valyrian blood (no matter how directly) is not a guarantee that bonding with a dragon will be successful.{{Ref|ADWD|68}}

Once a dragon has bonded with a rider, that dragon will not allow anyone else to mount it alone while its rider lives, no matter how familiar said person might be to the dragon.{{Ref|FAB|17}} But when the person bonded to the dragon is on the dragon's back, they may take a passenger.{{Ref|FAB|1}}{{Ref|FAB|16}} When the rider of a dragon dies, that dragon can bond with a new rider.{{Ref|FAB|11}} No rider has ever ridden a different dragon while their current dragon was alive.{{Ref|ADWD|50}} However, when Prince [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]]'s dragon [[Balerion]] died, according to Martin, "[Viserys] did not take a second dragon",<ref>[[Not A Blog]]: [https://grrm.livejournal.com/360936.html?thread=18786792#/t18786792 The Rogues are Coming... (March 12, 2014), Comment (March 12, 2014)]</ref> leaving the possibility that a rider might bond with a new dragon after his/her first dragon has died. Indeed, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]], following the death of her dragon [[Syrax]], insisted on finding more dragon eggs, as she "must have another dragon",{{Ref|FAB|17}} as did King [[Aegon II Targaryen]] after the death of his dragon [[Sunfyre]].{{Ref|FAB|18}} Dragons who have had a rider once before are easier to bond with than wild dragons.{{Ref|FAB|15}}

A dragon might to be able to sense when its current rider is in distress or has died. This is implied in the case of the dragon [[Dreamfyre]], who, despite being locked and chained in the [[Dragonpit]], is said to have sensed when her rider [[Helaena Targaryen]] committed suicide in [[Maegor's Holdfast]], at the other side of [[King's Landing]].{{Ref|FAB|17}} The sense of connection between dragon and rider may also be mutual — when [[Drogon]] was impaled by a spear, he and his bonded owner, [[Daenerys Targaryen]], both screamed at the same moment, even though she had not yet ridden him.{{Ref|ADWD|52}}

Dragonriders usually ride their dragons using special saddles. Chains attached to the saddle are fastened to the rider's belt, for security.{{Ref|FAB|16}}{{Ref|FAB|17}} However, a rider could leave their chains dangling, if they wish.{{Ref|FAB|16}} A dragonrider may also ride without a saddle, their legs around the dragon's back or neck.{{Ref|ADWD|52}}{{Ref|ADWD|71}}{{Ref|FAB|17}}