Difference between revisions of "Silverwing"

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| Race =  
 
| Race =  
 
| Place_of_Birth=  
 
| Place_of_Birth=  
| Date_of_Birth =  
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| Date_of_Birth = or between {{Date|36}} and {{Date|41}}<ref name=cal>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued3)#Silverwing|Silverwing]] calculation''</ref>
 
| Place_of_Death=
 
| Place_of_Death=
| Date_of_Death =
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| Date_of_Death = or between {{Date|131}} and {{Date|153}}<ref name=cal/>
| Books = ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Sons of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)  
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| Books =''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[Fire & Blood]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Sons of the Dragon]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[The Princess and the Queen]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (mentioned)<br>''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (mentioned)  
 
}}
 
}}
 
[[File:Queen Alysanne the Good.jpg|Queen Alysanne and Silverwing at [[Queenscrown]]. © guad |thumb|right|320px]]
 
[[File:Queen Alysanne the Good.jpg|Queen Alysanne and Silverwing at [[Queenscrown]]. © guad |thumb|right|320px]]
'''Silverwing''' was the [[dragon]] of Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] when she visited [[the Wall]] two hundred years ago.{{ref|ASOS|41}}{{Ref|aFfC|5}} Silverwing also fought in the civil war called the [[Dance of the Dragons]].  
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'''Silverwing''' was one of the [[dragon]]s of [[House Targaryen]]. She was ridden by Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]],{{ref|ASOS|41}}{{Ref|aFfC|5}} and later by [[Ulf the White]] during the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|tpatq}}
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==Appearance==
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Silverwing has been described as being a silvery dragon.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|fab|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
When Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]] grew bored while visiting [[Winterfell]] with her husband, King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], she mounted her dragon Silverwing and flew north to see the [[Wall]], stopping at the village [[Queenscrown]] on the way.{{Ref|aSoS|40}}{{Ref|aSoS|41}} Jaehaerys came after her on his own dragon, [[Vermithor]].{{Ref|AFFC|5}}
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===Alysanne Targaryen===
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According to legend, Silverwing hatched from the [[dragon's egg]] that was placed in the cradle of [[Alysanne Targaryen]] by her sister [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena]] in {{Date|36}}.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}}
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Silverwing contributed her flames to the funeral pyre of King [[Aenys I Targaryen]], together with the [[dragon]]s [[Quicksilver]] and [[Vermithor]]. Following Aenys's funeral, Silverwing was brought to [[Driftmark]] when her rider, Alysanne, fled to [[Daemon Velaryon (son of Aethan)|her uncle's]] castle.{{Ref|fab|The Sons of the Dragon}}
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By {{Date|48}}, Alysanne had become a [[dragonrider]] by flying on Silverwing. After King [[Maegor I Targaryen]]'s death, Alysanne flew Silverwing to [[King's Landing]], together with her brother [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] and her sister [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena]] upon their dragons, [[Vermithor]] and [[Dreamfyre]], so Jaehaerys could claim the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|tsotd}}
  
Like their riders, Silverwing and Vermithor became a mated pair.  Even years after Jaehaerys I and Alysanne died, Vermithor and Silverwing "oft coiled about one another" in the fields.{{ref|tpatq}}
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In {{Date|54}}, Alysanne flew Silverwing to [[Oldtown]], where the dragon alighted atop the Hightower, fanning the flames of the tower's beacon with her wings, which made the city gasp.{{Ref|fab|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}
  
At the start of the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Silverwing was one of the semi-wild dragons of [[Dragonmont]] on [[Dragonstone]] that [[the blacks]] tried to master with new dragonriders. [[Ulf the White]] eventually succeeded in claiming her and was ridden by him during the civil war.{{ref|tpatq}}
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In {{Date|56}}, when the [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] began to house dragons in the [[Dragonpit]], Silverwing and Vermithor did not join [[Balerion]] and three younger dragons, but instead remained at the [[Red Keep]], where they would be close to their riders.{{Ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
Silverwing took part in and survived the [[Battle in the Gullet]]. Along with Vermithor, [[Sheepstealer]], [[Vermax]] and [[Seasmoke]], Vermithor descended upon the ninety warships sailing under the banners of the [[Three Daughters]].{{ref|tpatq}}
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In {{Date|58}}, Alysanne flew Silverwing to [[White Harbor]], [[Winterfell]], and later the [[Wall]]. At the Wall, Alysanne attempted on three occasions to fly Silverwing over the Wall, but the dragon refused every time. The dragon would hiss and snap at every gust of wind coming down from the Wall. Alysanne wrote to her brother that she was troubled by the fact that Silverwing refused to fly over the Wall.{{Ref|Fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}}
  
Along with [[Caraxes]], Silverwing and [[Sheepstealer]], Vermithor made a lair in the [[Dragonpit]] before flying off to deal with the large army of [[House Hightower]] which had been making its way up the [[Roseroad]], and was advancing on [[Tumbleton]].  During the [[First Battle of Tumbleton]], however, Hugh and Ulf switched sides, burning Rhaenyra's army there and scourging the town with whips of flame from one end to the other. The [[Two Betrayers]] had initially sought reward from the greens, wanting rule of [[Casterly Rock]] and [[Highgarden]], but the Hightower commander had died in the battle, so their host remained camped at Tumbleton debating their next move.
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Silverwing was ridden by Alysanne for the last time in {{Date|93}}, and became riderless upon Alysanne's death in {{Date|100}}.{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
  
Word later reached them of the [[Storming of the Dragonpit]] in King's Landing, and the [[Dance over Harrenhal]] in which both [[Vhagar]] and Caraxes died.  The only other remaining rideable dragons were Sunfyre (crippled and presumed dead), Sheepstealer (disappeared), Moondancer (barely big enough to ride), and Seasmoke and Tessarion (large enough for battle, but still relatively young and small compared to Vermithor and Silverwing). Recognizing this, Hugh Hammer decided to declare himself king, and the new leader of the green army at Tumbleton. Prince Daeron and his mount Tessarion were in the camp, was insulted at Hugh's usurpation.  When asked for justification, Hugh bluntly said that he named himself king by the same right that Aegon the Conqueror did:  he had a dragon, the biggest and most powerful one remaining.  Tessarion could not hope to fight the combined might of Vermithor and Silverwing so Daeron did not challenge them further - though with the [[Caltrops]] he conspired to have them assassinated.
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===Ulf White===
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Silverwing returned to [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]] after Alysanne's death, where she made her lair in one of the smoking caverns of the [[Dragonmont]].{{Ref|tpatq}} where she remained, riderless, until {{Date|129}}.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} When Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] decided that [[blacks|his mother's faction]] needed more [[dragonrider]]s, many men attempted to claim one of the riderless dragons upon Dragonstone, including Silverwing. Silverwing accepted [[Ulf the White]] as its rider.{{Ref|tpatq}}{{Ref|twoiaf| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}} Ulf rode Silverwing to battle in the [[Battle in the Gullet]]. Along with [[Vermithor]], [[Sheepstealer]], [[Vermax]] and [[Seasmoke]], Silverwing descended upon the ninety warships sailing under the banners of the [[Three Daughters]].{{ref|tpatq}}
  
Unbeknownst to any in the green camp at Tumbleton, however, [[Addam Velaryon]] had ridden his dragon Seasmoke across the Riverlands to rally surviving black armies, eventually amassing an army 4,000 strong.  Addam was determined to prove his loyalty to Rhaenyra by taking revenge on the Two Betrayers who had cast doubt on his honor because he was also a bastard. Thinking the blacks defeated, the green army was taken completely by surprise when he made a daring night-time attack:  the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]]. Daeron and Hugh were killed before they could mount their dragons - while Ulf the Sot was (aptly) passed out drunk in an inn, and slept through the entire battle.  The riderless Vermithor and Tessarion engaged Seasmoke in a brutal fight in the mud of the battle.  Vermithor killed Seasmoke when he locked his teeth into his neck and ripped his head off.  He attempted to take flight with his prize still in his jaws but his tattered wings could not lift his weight. After a moment he collapsed and died.  Vermithor also mortally wounded Tessarion, who died shortly afterwards.
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When King's Landing [[Fall of King's Landing|fell]] to [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]'s supporters, Ulf landed Silverwing upon the [[Hill of Rhaenys]], outside of the [[Dragonpit]]. In the Dragonpit, Silverwing made a lair before flying off to battle. Ulf rode Silverwing into battle during the [[First Battle of Tumbleton|first battle]] at [[Tumbleton]]. Ulf and fellow dragonseed [[Hugh Hammer]], who had claimed [[Vermithor]], changed their allegiance, betraying Rhaenyra in favor of [[Aegon II Targaryen]]. Silverwing, Vermithor, and [[Tessarion]], the dragon of Aegon II's brother Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]], let loose their flames upon Tumbleton, which was savagely sacked.{{ref|tpatq}}
  
The riderless Silverwing, however, had avoided the battle entirely, flying high up in the skies far from the ground and bowshot. It is said that after dark Silverwing descended to land beside her slain cousins. Later, the singers would tell of how she tried to lift Vermithor’s wing three times with her nose, as if to try and make him fly again, but according to Archmaester [[Gyldayn]] this is most likely a fable.{{ref|tpatq}}
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Ulf and Silverwing remained with the [[House Hightower|Hightower]] host at Tumbleton. Silverwing was kept unchained beyond the town walls, free to fly and hunt. During the [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]], an army of four thousand men strong, led by [[Addam Velaryon]] upon the dragon [[Seasmoke]], surprised the Hightower host at Tumbleton with their night-time attack. Ulf slept through the battle, but even without a rider Silverwing took to the sky during the battle. At one point, a crossbowman shot a bolt at the dragon.{{Ref|tpatq}} Silverwing avoided further battle and instead circled the battlefield for hours. She descended only again the next day, after the sun had gone down, and landed between the slain Vermithor, Seasmoke, and Tessarion. The singers claim that Silverwing attempted to lift Vermithor's wing on three occasions, but Archmaester [[Gyldayn]] considers this to most likely have been a fable. When the sun rose again, Silverwing began to fly listlessly across the field, where she few on the burned carcasses of men and animals.{{Ref|tpatq}}
  
The blacks, lacking siege equipment, retreated during the night after the battle. The surviving Caltrops, however, continued their plotting against Ulf the White.  Rousing Ulf after the battle, he said that because he had the only remaining large dragon, the plan would carry on much the same, but now he would be crowned king when they took the capital, instead of Hugh.  Lord [[Unwin Peake]] and Ser [[Hobert Hightower]] then tricked Ulf into drinking poisoned wine, though Ser Hobert also died because he drained his cup so as not to raise Ulf's suspicion.  Peake succeeded Hobert as commander, and offered a thousand golden dragons to any [[knight]] of noble birth able to ride Silverwing, but none succeeded.  With his dwindling army badly bloodied and facing mass desertion, Peake decided to retreat his remaining forces back to the Reach.{{ref|tpatq}}
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Silverwing's rider, Ulf the White, insisted he should become the new king of the [[Seven Kingdoms]], as King Aegon II was missing, and Prince Aemond and [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]] had died. When Ser [[Hobert Hightower]], one of the [[Caltrops]], gave Ulf the White poisoned [[wine]], Silverwing became riderless once again.{{Ref|tpatq}}
  
Silverwing was one of only four surviving dragons at the end of the Dance, though of the other three Sheepstealer and the [[Cannibal (dragon)|Cannibal]] had disappeared, and [[Morning]] had only hatched a few months before the war ended.  Nonetheless, Silverwing remained wild with grief after the death of Vermithor, after which she fled west and made her lair on an island in [[Red Lake]] (in the northwest of the Reach), hunting and killing as she would.{{ref|TWOIAF}}
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===Later life===
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At [[Tumbleton]], Lord [[Unwin Peake]] offered a thousand [[currency|golden dragons]] to any [[knight]] of noble birth able to claim Silverwing. Out of the three men who came forth, the first had his arm torn off and the second burned to death. The third man then changed his mind.{{ref|tpatq}}
  
The last dragon is said to have died in 153 AC, only 22 years after the Dance ended, during the reign of [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III Dragonbane]].  Silverwing must therefore have died at some point in the intervening years, through as-yet unexplained circumstances.
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Silverwing was one of only four dragons still alive at the end of the [[Dance of the Dragons]].{{Ref|twoiaf| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}} Although accustomed to men, Silverwing became wild during the reign of [[Aegon III Targaryen]], and eventually made her lair on an island in [[Red Lake]] in the northwest of the [[Reach]].{{ref|TWOIAF| The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
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==Known dragonriders of Silverwing==
 
==Known dragonriders of Silverwing==
:* Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]]
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* Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen]]
:* [[Ulf the White]]
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* [[Ulf the White]]
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
:*[[:Category:Images of Silverwing|Images of Silverwing]]
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*[[:Category:Images of Silverwing|Images of Silverwing]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 19:16, 6 February 2019

Silverwing
Queen Alysanne by Trishkell.jpg
Silverwing, being ridden by Queen Alysanne. © Green Ronin Publishing

Allegiances
Born or between 36 AC and 41 AC[1]
Died or between 131 AC and 153 AC[1]
Books
Queen Alysanne and Silverwing at Queenscrown. © guad

Silverwing was one of the dragons of House Targaryen. She was ridden by Queen Alysanne Targaryen,[2][3] and later by Ulf the White during the Dance of the Dragons.[4]

Appearance

Silverwing has been described as being a silvery dragon.[5][6]

History

Alysanne Targaryen

According to legend, Silverwing hatched from the dragon's egg that was placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen by her sister Rhaena in 36 AC.[7]

Silverwing contributed her flames to the funeral pyre of King Aenys I Targaryen, together with the dragons Quicksilver and Vermithor. Following Aenys's funeral, Silverwing was brought to Driftmark when her rider, Alysanne, fled to her uncle's castle.[7]

By 48 AC, Alysanne had become a dragonrider by flying on Silverwing. After King Maegor I Targaryen's death, Alysanne flew Silverwing to King's Landing, together with her brother Jaehaerys and her sister Rhaena upon their dragons, Vermithor and Dreamfyre, so Jaehaerys could claim the Iron Throne.[8]

In 54 AC, Alysanne flew Silverwing to Oldtown, where the dragon alighted atop the Hightower, fanning the flames of the tower's beacon with her wings, which made the city gasp.[5]

In 56 AC, when the Targaryens began to house dragons in the Dragonpit, Silverwing and Vermithor did not join Balerion and three younger dragons, but instead remained at the Red Keep, where they would be close to their riders.[9]

In 58 AC, Alysanne flew Silverwing to White Harbor, Winterfell, and later the Wall. At the Wall, Alysanne attempted on three occasions to fly Silverwing over the Wall, but the dragon refused every time. The dragon would hiss and snap at every gust of wind coming down from the Wall. Alysanne wrote to her brother that she was troubled by the fact that Silverwing refused to fly over the Wall.[9]

Silverwing was ridden by Alysanne for the last time in 93 AC, and became riderless upon Alysanne's death in 100 AC.[10]

Ulf White

Silverwing returned to Dragonstone after Alysanne's death, where she made her lair in one of the smoking caverns of the Dragonmont.[4] where she remained, riderless, until 129 AC.[11] When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon decided that his mother's faction needed more dragonriders, many men attempted to claim one of the riderless dragons upon Dragonstone, including Silverwing. Silverwing accepted Ulf the White as its rider.[4][11] Ulf rode Silverwing to battle in the Battle in the Gullet. Along with Vermithor, Sheepstealer, Vermax and Seasmoke, Silverwing descended upon the ninety warships sailing under the banners of the Three Daughters.[4]

When King's Landing fell to Rhaenyra Targaryen's supporters, Ulf landed Silverwing upon the Hill of Rhaenys, outside of the Dragonpit. In the Dragonpit, Silverwing made a lair before flying off to battle. Ulf rode Silverwing into battle during the first battle at Tumbleton. Ulf and fellow dragonseed Hugh Hammer, who had claimed Vermithor, changed their allegiance, betraying Rhaenyra in favor of Aegon II Targaryen. Silverwing, Vermithor, and Tessarion, the dragon of Aegon II's brother Prince Daeron, let loose their flames upon Tumbleton, which was savagely sacked.[4]

Ulf and Silverwing remained with the Hightower host at Tumbleton. Silverwing was kept unchained beyond the town walls, free to fly and hunt. During the Second Battle of Tumbleton, an army of four thousand men strong, led by Addam Velaryon upon the dragon Seasmoke, surprised the Hightower host at Tumbleton with their night-time attack. Ulf slept through the battle, but even without a rider Silverwing took to the sky during the battle. At one point, a crossbowman shot a bolt at the dragon.[4] Silverwing avoided further battle and instead circled the battlefield for hours. She descended only again the next day, after the sun had gone down, and landed between the slain Vermithor, Seasmoke, and Tessarion. The singers claim that Silverwing attempted to lift Vermithor's wing on three occasions, but Archmaester Gyldayn considers this to most likely have been a fable. When the sun rose again, Silverwing began to fly listlessly across the field, where she few on the burned carcasses of men and animals.[4]

Silverwing's rider, Ulf the White, insisted he should become the new king of the Seven Kingdoms, as King Aegon II was missing, and Prince Aemond and Daeron had died. When Ser Hobert Hightower, one of the Caltrops, gave Ulf the White poisoned wine, Silverwing became riderless once again.[4]

Later life

At Tumbleton, Lord Unwin Peake offered a thousand golden dragons to any knight of noble birth able to claim Silverwing. Out of the three men who came forth, the first had his arm torn off and the second burned to death. The third man then changed his mind.[4]

Silverwing was one of only four dragons still alive at the end of the Dance of the Dragons.[12] Although accustomed to men, Silverwing became wild during the reign of Aegon III Targaryen, and eventually made her lair on an island in Red Lake in the northwest of the Reach.[11]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Bran Stark mentions Silverwing to Meera and Jojen Reed when they arrive at Queenscrown.[13] Jon Snow tells Ygritte of Queen Alysanne Targaryen's visit to the Wall more than two centuries ago.[2]

A Feast for Crows

While riding in the chain winch at the Wall, Samwell Tarly wonders if Silverwing may have left an egg at the Wall.[3]

Known dragonriders of Silverwing

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 See the Silverwing calculation
  2. 2.0 2.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 41, Jon V.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 The Princess and the Queen.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  6. Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  8. The Sons of the Dragon.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  10. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  13. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 40, Bran III.