House of the Dragon: How Far is Dragonstone from King’s Landing? Analyzing Aemond’s Quick Flight in Episode 7

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As a devoted fan with years of immersion in George R.R. Martin’s captivating world, I can’t help but feel my heart race as House of the Dragon Season 2 unfolds, drawing us ever closer to the cataclysmic Dance of the Dragons. The proximity of Dragonstone to King’s Landing, a mere stone’s throw across Blackwater Bay, has never felt so ominous.

In House of the Dragon’s second season, the distance between Dragonstone and King’s Landing has become more apparent. After Queen Rhaenyra married Laenor Velaryon in Season 1, Dragonstone has been a frequent topic as she governs from there, asserting her authority over the Greens from her throne.

Dragonstone, shown clearly on the maps, is barely a stone’s throw away from King’s Landing over Blackwater Bay. This proximity of the seats of power for Houses Black and Green poses a potential danger to both.

How far is Dragonstone from King’s Landing?

In the latest episode, “The Red Sowing,” I watched as Aemond mounted Vhagar and took off in pursuit of Ulf the White. He was arrogantly displaying his newly acquired dragon, Silverwing, by soaring above King’s Landing. Reaching Rhaenyra’s territory, I, as the Prince Regent, was compelled to return home once I beheld Team Black’s impressive new collection of dragons.

Although it appeared that Aemond flew on Vhagar, one of the slower dragons, to Dragonstone within a short span of time, a more accurate measurement revealed that the distance was approximately 400 miles or 643 kilometers, as reported by ScreenRant in relation to George R.R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Ice & Fire. In the books and the HBO adaptation, distances within Westeros are occasionally mentioned in different contexts.

By combining the data, we can create a roughly proportional map of Westeros. Utilizing The Wall’s length as a benchmark (300 miles or 482 km), the distance between King’s Landing and Dragonstone is around 400 miles long.

An additional aspect to consider is the dragons’ flying speed when calculating the distance and duration it takes to reach Dragonstone and Driftmark from King’s Landing. The sense of urgency comes into play here, as Vhagar quickly overtook Silverwing within just a few minutes. Since Vhagar is the largest but slower dragon, it’s reasonable to assume that smaller dragons might complete the journey in less time.

Previously, it was pointed out by Prince Jacaerys Velaryon that dragons move quicker than ravens, providing us with a sense of how swift these fire-breathing creatures can fly.

What to expect in the Season 2 finale?

Approaching the conclusion of House of the Dragon Season 2, there’s still much left to reveal. The season finale will air on August 4, 2024, and a brand-new trailer offers tantalizing glimpses into the events that lie ahead.

1. The season finale sneak peek indicates an impending war between the Blacks and Greens, with Ser Criston Cole ominously stating, “Dragons are dancing, and we’re mere dust beneath their feet, marching towards our own destruction.” Following Queen Rhaenyra’s discovery of three new Dragonriders who will fight for her in the Dance of the Dragons, the balance of power seems evenly matched, if not more so.

After regretfully incinerating his brother King Aegon and their shared dragon, Sunfyre, during the Battle of Rook’s Rest, Aemond seeks reconciliation by asking his sister, Queen Helaena, to join him in battle on Dreamfyre.

The HBO show could once again leave us hanging at the end of Season 3, as the civil war resumes. In the finale of Season 1, we saw Rhaenyra’s son Lucaerys and her dragon Arrax meet their untimely ends at the hands of Aemond and Vhagar. The episode concluded with an enraged Rhaenyra poised to ignite the flames of war.

Although a war seems unavoidable now, it’s challenging to conclude all these developments in just one episode, implying that the Dance of the Dragons may persist beyond Season 3.

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2024-07-30 17:53