The latest episode of House of the Dragon featured an epic scene where young Aemond Targaryen bonded with the dragon Vhagar. Left riderless after the death of Laena Velaryon, Vhagar is the largest and oldest living dragon, the only one remaining from the time of Aegon the Conqueror, progenitor of the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros. Approaching such an enormous creature is a daring endeavor, and it has an incredible payoff for Aemond (Leo Ashton), who goes from being a bullied child wishing for his own dragon to the rider of the realm’s most dangerous beast in one exhilarating instant.
When Aemond reaches for the ropes that lead to Vhagar’s saddle, the dragon rears back, challenging him. It’s the first test between rider and dragon, and Aemond meets it by standing his ground and using several commands in the High Valyrian language. Seeing his bravery and understanding his words, Vhagar allows him to climb aboard and they take their first flight as dragon and rider.
If you’ve been curious what exactly Aemond says to Vhagar, you’re in the right place. Allow us to be your High Valyrian translator.
Dohaeris Valyrian meaning
The first phrase that Aemond utters to Vhagar is “dohaeris,” a phrase which will likely sound familiar to any Game of Thrones fan. In High Valyrian, the word dohaeris means “serve,” or in this instance, it’s being used to convey “obey.” We heard it quite a few times in the original series; “Valar Dohaeris,” meaning “all men must serve,” was the traditional response to “Valar Morghulis,” the catch-phrase of the Faceless Men, which means “all men must die.”
So when Aemond or the other dragon keepers tell a dragon “dohaeris,” they’re telling it to listen up, to serve.
Lykiri Valyiran meaning
Another word we hear Aemond use is “lykiri.” The excellent Wiki of Thrones lays out the High Valyrian we’ve heard in House of the Dragon so far, and has this one translated as “calm” or “calm down.”
Considering that Vhagar opened her mouth wide enough to threaten Aemond with her fiery breath, we can’t blame him for using the “lykiri” command. Dragons are intelligent creatures, and Vhagar had just lost her rider. Helping calm her surely helped Aemond bond with her.
Soves Valyrian meaning
There’s one other High Valyrian word we hear Aemond use during the flight sequence with Vhagar, and that’s “Soves.” We actually heard this one before in Game of Thrones as well; Daenerys used it in season 3, before it was eventually replaced with the Dothraki word “Valahd” in later seasons. Both are meant to encourage the dragon to fly. “Valahd” means “horizon,” and is used by the Dothraki to spur their horses, like “hya” or “giddyup.”
The Valyrian “Soves” similarly encourages a dragon onward and upward, to take wing and soar.
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