How Does Aemond Targaryen Die in the Book?
Daemon’s plan was doomed to fail from the start.
Even though the hiatus between House of the Dragon Season 1 and Season 2 gave many fans a chance to familiarize themselves with George R. R. Martin's original novel on which the show is based, there are still many viewers who don't know what's coming next.
While that may be the best way to watch the show, unbiased by what you have read, there are some moments that make it hard to resist looking up the spoilers. Team Black's failed attempt to get Aemond Targaryen's head from the season 2 premiere episode is one such instance. So, if you aren’t afraid of spoilers, here’s what happens to Aemond in the book.
Will Aemond Targaryen Die in House of the Dragon?
It was pretty obvious to all book readers that Aemond would not be the one to lose his life when Daemon sent his men to get him. Perhaps it was also obvious to the show's fans, since Aemond is clearly a skilled warrior and just as ruthless as Daemon himself. Even if he had been found that night, he wouldn't have gone down without a fight.
However, if you thought that Daemon had something to do with Aemond's death, you would be right. Of course, we don't know how faithful the show will be to the novel, if at all, but the parallels between uncle and nephew are far too obvious to separate them at the very end.
According to the book, both Daemon and Aemond lose their lives in one-on-one battle on their dragons. Driven to the point of utter despair, Daemon decides to put Team Green's greatest sword to rest.
The big difference between the two skilled warriors is that Aemond goes into battle with the intention of winning, while Daemon is willing to give his life for victory. And that is exactly what happens. Chained to his dragon so as not to fall, Aemond is eventually murdered by Daemon, who leaps from Caraxes and plunges the sword through his nephew's eye.
According to the book, only Aemond's body is eventually recovered, and Daemon's is never found. While some speculate that he manages to survive and escape with Nettles (a character we may not even see in the show), others believe that he is dead as well. Either way, the battle of two equals ends in great tragedy for both teams.
If you are now afraid to tune back into the show and lose both fan-favorite characters at once, fear not. This battle takes place much later in the story, and it's highly unlikely that you'll see it in season 2. So feel free to tune in to HBO every Sunday to not miss a single twist.