Written by Hannah Bujold
Queen Daenerys I Targaryen, colloquially referred to as Dany, is a fictional character from the renowned television show Game of Thrones, whom is portrayed by the actor Emilia Clarke. Daenerys was the orphaned child of King Aerys II Targaryen, otherwise known as the Mad King, and Queen Rhaella Targaryen, whom were both the principal subjects of Robert Baratheon’s rebellion (War of the Usurper), which saw the destruction of the entire Targaryen dynasty — leaving Daenerys and Viserys as the only surviving heirs.
Daenerys character was initially composed as a timorous persona, obedient as the inferior counterpart to her brother Viserys. Being sold to the Dothraki leader, Khal Drogo, as a bribe, Daenerys was treated as if an object for her brother’s political and military gain. However, for the duration of her role as Khaleesi (Queen), Daenerys matured to become more assured and assertive, growing beyond her brother’s control — which ultimately resulted in his death.
Ensuing the death of Drogo and their unborn child, Daenerys was abandoned by the Dothraki horde, left with only a small portion of loyal slaves and Khalasar. However, it was in the funeral pyre that Drogo’s body was burned in, that Daenerys’ emerged unburnt having hatched her dragons, which she regards as her children; Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion, named after her late husband and deceased brothers. This symbolised the true beginning of Daenerys Targaryen’s reign as the Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, and the Breaker of Chains.
1. Bay of Dragons, formally known as Slaver’s Bay, returns to slavery.
Having spent a considerable portion of her time throughout the duration of ‘Game of Thrones’ liberating slaves, Daenerys death leaves the Bay of Dragons fate in undesirable circumstances. Ahead of departing Essos, Daenerys and her dragons ensured the compliance of the Slave Masters by destroying the entirety of the Slaver’s armada. This shift in power ends the looming threat of slavery returning, establishing the freedom of every citizen under her reign.
However, with the news of her death, this leaves the Bay of Dragons exposed to a coup, due to the overwhelming forces of remaining Slave Masters in regions of Essos not yet conquered by Daenerys. Moreover, with Daenerys surviving forces of the Unsullied and Dothraki unable to reach Essos, as a result of the long passage back by ships, the Slavers will have a substantial advantage.
2. The Dothraki Horde returns to their old ways.
The Dothraki are a fictional people, of nomadic horse-mounted warriors, the very name Dothraki in their language meaning ‘rider’. The Dothraki are separated into nameless clans of Khalasar, that inhabit the continent of Essos in plains referred to as the Dothraki Sea. Ruled by individual Khals (Kings), the Khalasar roam Essos in search of plunder; taking slaves, raping, stealing, and butchering villages.
It is commonly known in Essos that the Dothraki follow power, and Daenerys and her dragons were power. After reclaiming her title and status among them as Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Daenerys was the only Khaleesi, or Khal, for that matter, to lead the Dothraki across the Narrow Sea to Westeros, something never accomplished in the Dothraki’s history. Under Daenerys rule, the Dothraki obeyed her laws, ceasing their ways of enslavement and rape. However, with Daenerys death, there is no governing body that prevents the Dothraki from returning to their old ways, and it is likely upon returning to Essos that the Dothraki will ultimately side with the Slavers as there is no benefit in fighting with the remaining Unsullied.
3. Daenerys will only be remembered throughout history as the ‘Mad Queen’.
“Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.”
This quote was spoken by Lord Varys, a short time advisor of Daenerys, who questioned Daenerys soundness of mind considerably in the final season. Daenerys prompt descent into ‘madness’ came as a product of the deaths of her trusted close companions; Drogo, Barristan Selmy, Jorah Mormont and Missandei — all of whom died still believing in Daenerys. Moreover, the betrayals of those she considered allies; Doreah, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Varys and Tyrion Lannister, served to induce paranoia in Daenerys. However, it was the deaths of her children, Viserion and Rhaegal, that constituted her madness, as she witnessed their deaths and yet could do nothing as they died in agony.
Thus, with Daenerys now known as the ‘Mad Queen’ who burned Kings Landing — killing and mutilating thousands of innocents with Drogon’s fire — history will serve to define her through that one sole moment. Daenerys will not be remembered as a kind, benevolent queen, as Mhysa (translated to mother) to the slaves she freed, nor will she be remembered as an intelligent tactician in her rise to power. Daenerys history will be distorted by those who write it, and with the population of Westeros spiteful of the ‘foreigner’ who invaded their lands and burned their cities, Daenerys will not be remembered well.
4. Drogon is the last surviving dragon in the world of ‘Game of Thrones’.
Drogon was always considered the favoured child of Daenerys children, due to the increased proportion of screen time, but also the analysis into Drogon as an individual capable of some degree of thought and understanding. In the final concluding episode of season 8, upon witnessing his mother’s corpse, just slain by Jon Snow, Drogon instead of lashing out on Jon, melts the Iron Throne until it is nothing more than unformed steel. This very act proves Drogon’s intellectual capacity, he recognised that it wasn’t Jon’s fault, but Daenerys all-consuming desire to reclaim the Iron Throne that ultimately killed her.
Viewer’s witnessed in the final stages of the episode as Drogon delicately handled his mother’s body, cradling her in his claws as he escorted Daenerys from Kings Landing. It is still unknown what occurs to Drogon, but it is said “he was last spotted flying east toward Volant-”, the name left unfinished is presumably Volantis, the closest free city to the Bay of Dragons, located in Essos. Volantis is known to house a substantial amount of Lord of Light followers, with their oldest and most experienced priests/priestesses practising in their temples. This could potentially mean, Drogon means to take his mother there for resurrection — but this would require a lot more intelligence than that indicated of Drogon.
Thus, in terms of Drogon’s uncertain future, there are few that would be capable of killing him, and with Cersei’s crossbows destroyed in the destruction of Kings Landing, Drogon is free to roam unconfined across the sea and land. As a solitary dragon, his existence leading forward will persist as companionless, due to the fact that his brothers and mother are now gone and that Drogon has no known home to dwell.
