According to legend, in 34 AC, Vermithor – the Bronze Fury, was hatched in the traditional custom of Targaryens, by placing the egg in a child’s cradle. In this instance, A bronze-scaled beast with large tan wings is what emerged. Vermithor’s placement is an important part of the history of the continent, as it was put in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, future King of Westeros.

Prince Jaehaerys was the fourth born child of King Aenys I Targaryen and was not the first to have a dragon. His elder sister, Rhaena, bonded with the dragon Dreamfyre in 34 AC. Later, his sister Alysanne would bond with Silverwing in the cradle, and his oldest brother Aegon would claim his fathers dragon, Quicksilver, in 42 AC.

Not much is known about Vermithor’s early life. They first appear in the account of King Aenys’ funeral in 42 AC, helping to light the cremation pyre along with the dragons Quicksilver and Silverwing. Immediately following the funeral of Aenys, his aunt, Princess Visenya, and her son Maegor left to usurp Aegon’s new seat. Visenya’s first move was to use her dragon Vhagar to trap Jaehaerys, Alysanne, and their dragons on Dragonstone. They were held hostage until Visenya’s death in 44 AC when they fled to Storm’s End under the protection of Rogar Baratheon.

In 43 AC Aenys’ eldest son, Aegon, died attempting to reclaim his stolen throne, making Jaehaerys the legitimate heir. Following Maegor’s mysterious death in 48 AC, Vermithor flew fourteen year old Jaehaerys to King’s Landing to inherit the throne. While not yet the age of majority, his mother, Dowager Queen Alyssa, ruled as Queen Regent and Rogar Baratheon was appointed Hand of the King to handle matters of state. Many decisions were made without consulting the young Jaehaerys, one of which was that of his marriage. After learning that Rogar and his mother were to forbid him choosing his sister Alysanne, he fled to Dragonstone on Vermithor to marry in secret.

On the twentieth day of the ninth moon in 50 AC Jaehaerys reached the age of majority and turned sixteen. He sent five knights of his Kingsguard to King’s Landing ahead of his departure to make certain that all was ready for his arrival. Three days later, Jaehaerys mounted Vermithor and flew to the capital to claim his throne.

After settling matters of state, the king summoned Lord Rogar Baratheon. Though Rogar feared harsh reprimands for his previous actions, Jaehaerys informed him that he had not forgotten how Rogar had protected his family and pardoned the Lord of Storm’s End. Lord Rogar was grateful, but questioned if hostages from House Baratheon were required. In answer, king Jaehaerys descended the Iron Throne and bade Lord Rogar follow him to where Vermithor was being fed.

A bull had been slaughtered for the dragon’s meal and lay upon the stones charred and smoking. Vermithor was devouring the flesh, tearing loose great chunks of meat, but when the king approached with Lord Rogar, the dragon raised his head and gazed through bronze pools.

“He grows larger every day. Keep your nieces and your nephews, my lord. Why would I need hostages? I have your word, that is all that I require.”

Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Fire & Blood

As Jaehaerys ascended the throne, Vermithor falls into the background aside from the physical embodiment of the king’s might. Might he would need to use in the coming years.

Vermithor was essential in many battles fought during his reign. Dornish raids were a common occurrence, and too became organized under the ‘Vulture King’. In the hard lands of northern Dorne, armies will be lost to attrition, but dragons will reign supreme. The Vulture King couldn’t run from the dragon forever and was slain by Jaehaerys in 61 AC.

The royal couple also understood that their dragons weren’t only useful as weapons of war. They utilized their mobility and traveled across Westeros on Vermithor and Silverwing, spreading news and plans for their kingdom, bringing the country into a period of peace and prosperity.

Vermithor finally became riderless when Jaehaerys died in 103 AC. Throughout the reign of Jaehaerys’s successor, King Viserys I Targaryen, Vermithor had no new rider. During this time, Vermithor remained in the smoking caverns of Dragonstone until their incredible part in the disastrous Dance of the Dragons.