FiLMELY: House of the Dragon: Overview of Dragon Meleys the Red Queen

House of the Dragon: Overview of Dragon Meleys the Red Queen

In Season 1 of House of Dragon series, at the enthronement ceremony of Aegon II organized by the Greens, in the midst of popular cheers, the Red Dragon Meleys suddenly appeared with Princess Rhaenys on her back, destroying the Dragonpit in a brief moment, and tempted to spew fire and consumed them all; but eventually flew away, signaling the beginning of the civil war.

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Meleys has bright red scales and pink membranes on her wings, which has earned her the nickname the Red Queen. Her crest, horns, and claws glittered like bronze.

There is no official information on the origin and linage of Meleys, but she seems to be the generation of dragons born on the continent of Westeros from the three dragons from Valyria - Balerion, Meraxes and Vhagar.

By 75 AC, Meleys was considered the fastest dragons in Westeros, easily surpassing both Caraxes and Vhagar in speed. By 129 AC – the setting of Dance of the Dragons, Meleys had become lazy, but still terrifying when maneuvered. Meleys is old, cunning, skillful, and no strange to battle.

In the event of Aegon II's coronation, the scene of Meleys' nimble crossing the gate and then taking off in the blink of an eye shows its graceful ingenuity.

Originally, Meleys resided in the Dragonpit in King's Landing, having never been ridden before. Later, Meleys was tamed by Princess Alyssa Targaryen. Alyssa was the fifth daughter of King Jaehaerys I, who later married her eldest brother, Prince Baelon, giving birth to three children, Viserys I, Daemon and Aegon.

Alyssa died after giving birth to her third child in the year 84 AC. In 87 AC, Meleys was claimed by Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, who later married Lord Corlys Velaryon in 90 AC and brought Meleys to live on Driftmark Island.

In Dance of the Dragons, when Rook's Rest was besieged by the armies of Ser Criston Cole - now made Right Hand to the King in 129 AC, Princess Rhaenys brought Meleys to the castle to aid. Meleys was attacked with iron bolts by Cole's army, which enraged her to spew fire at the troops below.

Suddenly Vhagar Dragon and Golden Dragon Sunfyre appeared above Rook's Rest and attacked Meleys together.

According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Meleys alone might stand a chance against the aging Vhagar, but against both Vhagar and Sunfyre is unlikely. Meleys tried to squeeze her jaws around Sunfyre's neck, until Vhagar fell on them, then the three dragons fell to the ground together.

Meleys did not survive the fall, and her body was torn to pieces.

A charred body was discovered next to Meleys and believed to be Princess Rhaenys. Vhagar and Aemon were unharmed after the battle, but Sunfyre was badly hurt, and King Aegon II suffered severe burns to the lower half of his body and has been disabled ever since.

Meleys' head was brought back by King Aegon II Targaryen's forces to King's Landing and dragged on a cart through the city, as a way of showing off to the populace.