What Happens To Ulf The White: How He Dies & How House Of The Dragon Rewrites His Story

Image via HBO Published Aug 10, 2026, 10:31 AM EDT James Hunt is a writer and editor based in Newcastle, UK. A Sports Journalism graduate from the University of Sunderland, he quickly realized that supporting his local football (or "soccer") team, Sunderland AFC, was painful enough without having to write about it, so decided to write a load of nonsense about movies and TV instead. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon's season 3 finale, "The Treasons of Tumbleton.""They will burn." Ulf the White made a dark promise to Ormund Hightower at the end of House of the Dragon season 3, episode 7, "The Dragon in Winter," and in the season finale he delivers on it and then some. Despite being a bastard rather than a member of the nobility, Ulf was able to claim the dragon Silverwing, which should've made him one of the most important individuals on Rhaenyra Targaryen's Team Black. However, the queen's treatment of him, compounded by Daemon Targaryen beating him in the street, caused him to turn cloak. Even that, however, wasn't straightforward. House of the Dragon season 3's finale sees Ormund make the same mistakes, pushing Ulf to the ground when he's missing from the battle, kicking him, and calling him baseborn and useless. And thus, when Ulf finally takes to the sky on his dragon, he burns the host led by Daemon... but also makes sure to burn the Hightowers, directly burning Ormund himself (and Roderick Dustin, aka Roddy the Ruin). After one of the most devastating and destructive displays of dragon power we've seen in the series so far, Ulf takes off away from the ruined town of Tumbleton, followed by both Vermithor and Caraxes. Having betrayed both sides of the Dance of the Dragons, Ulf faces a difficult future and a desperate bid for survival, and it's also a story that will have to make more changes to George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood. How Ulf Dies In Fire & Blood & What Happens To Silverwing Image via HBO Warning: Major SPOILERS for the book from this point on.Ulf's death in Fire & Blood comes shortly after the Battle of Tumbleton... but the second, not the first. In the source material, Ulf is named Lord of Bitterbridge by Daeron Targaryen (who is not missing like he now is in the TV series), though he's not entirely happy with that as a reward. Still, he officially remains on the side of the Greens, alongside Hugh the Hammer, who, in the book, joins Ulf in betraying Rhaenyra and burning Tumbleton, and whose own TV future is now unclear. Ulf and Hugh are known as the Two Betrayers, and stay at Tumbleton, not wanting to march back towards King's Landing. Their behavior, which includes Hugh declaring himself king, leads to a split in the Green host that remains in the town, and the formation of a group named the Caltrops. Made up of 13 nobles, they hatch a plot to kill both Hugh and Ulf, though their plans are disrupted by the arrival of Addam Velaryon (still Addam of Hull in the TV show) and an army of Team Black that arrives to recapture Tumbleton. Dragonstone Archives · The Dance Begins The Dance of the Dragons Awaits “The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion.” 🐉The BlacksTeam Rhaenyra 👑The GreensTeam Aegon 🔥DragonsFire & Blood ⚔The CrownSuccession 🔮ProphecyA Song of Ice CHOOSE YOUR SIDE → 01 King Viserys I names his heir early in the series, defying tradition that would favor his firstborn son. Who does he name as his successor? ADaemon Targaryen BAegon Targaryen CRhaenyra Targaryen DAemond Targaryen ✓ Correct! Viserys named his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne after the death of his first wife, Aemma, and their infant son. He forced the lords of the realm to swear oaths of fealty to her — oaths many would later break. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Rhaenyra Targaryen. Viserys defied Westerosi precedent by naming his daughter over his brother Daemon. Even after fathering sons with Alicent Hightower, Viserys never changed his decree. NEXT → 02 Alicent Hightower’s faction is known as “the Greens.” Who is her father, the cunning Hand of the King who orchestrates much of their political strategy? ACorlys Velaryon BOtto Hightower CLyonel Strong DTyland Lannister ✓ Correct! Otto Hightower served as Hand of the King and was the mastermind behind the Green faction. He strategically positioned his daughter Alicent to marry Viserys, and spent decades maneuvering to place Alicent’s son Aegon on the throne. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Otto Hightower. He served as Hand to both Jaehaerys I and Viserys I, and engineered the marriage between Alicent and the King. Corlys Velaryon sided with the Blacks, and Lyonel Strong served as Hand before Otto’s return. NEXT → 03 Daemon Targaryen rides a fierce, battle-scarred dragon known for its Blood Wyrm nickname. What is the name of his fearsome mount? ASyrax BVhagar CMeleys DCaraxes ✓ Correct! Caraxes, known as “the Blood Wyrm,” is Daemon’s dragon — a lean, red, battle-scarred beast. While Vhagar is the largest and oldest dragon alive, Caraxes is the most experienced in combat and fiercely loyal to Daemon. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Caraxes. Syrax is Rhaenyra’s dragon, Vhagar is the oldest dragon (ridden by Aemond), and Meleys “the Red Queen” is Rhaenys’s mount. Caraxes the Blood Wyrm is Daemon’s partner in the skies. NEXT → 04 Princess Rhaenys Targaryen is known by a nickname reflecting the fact she was passed over for the throne in favor of Viserys. What is she called? AThe Queen Who Never Was BThe Dragon Queen CThe Realm’s Delight DThe Black Queen ✓ Correct! Rhaenys was dubbed “The Queen Who Never Was” after the Great Council of 101 AC chose Viserys over her, despite her strong claim. Married to Corlys Velaryon, she became one of the most formidable figures in the Dance, riding Meleys the Red Queen. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Queen Who Never Was. “The Realm’s Delight” is actually young Rhaenyra’s nickname. Rhaenys earned her title when the lords of the realm chose Viserys over her at the Great Council, setting the precedent that later fueled the Dance. NEXT → 05 Vhagar is the largest living dragon during the Dance. Which Targaryen prince claims her — dramatically shifting the balance of power to the Greens? AAegon II Targaryen BJacaerys Velaryon CAemond Targaryen DDaeron Targaryen ✓ Correct! Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar at Driftmark after the funeral of Laena Velaryon — Vhagar’s previous rider. This bold act gave the Greens their most devastating weapon and sparked the confrontation that cost Aemond his eye. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aemond Targaryen. Aegon II rides Sunfyre, Jacaerys rides Vermax, and Daeron rides Tessarion. Aemond’s daring claim of Vhagar at Driftmark was a pivotal moment that made him the Greens’ most dangerous warrior. NEXT → 06 Viserys shares a secret Targaryen prophecy with Rhaenyra about a threat from the North and a promised prince. What is this prophecy called? AThe Prince That Was Promised BA Song of Ice and Fire CThe Long Night Prophecy DAegon’s Conquest ✓ Correct! Aegon the Conqueror had a prophetic dream he called “A Song of Ice and Fire” — a vision of a terrible winter coming from the North that would destroy the world of the living. This secret was passed from king to heir, and Viserys shared it with Rhaenyra on the night he named her heir. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is A Song of Ice and Fire. Aegon the Conqueror’s dream foretold a great threat from the North requiring a Targaryen on the Iron Throne to unite the realm. Viserys revealed this to Rhaenyra, connecting House of the Dragon directly to the events of Game of Thrones. NEXT → 07 Corlys Velaryon is one of the richest and most powerful men in Westeros, famous for his legendary voyages. What is his well-known title? AThe Master of Ships BThe Lord of Tides CThe Kraken DThe Sea Snake ✓ Correct! Corlys Velaryon earned the name “The Sea Snake” through his legendary nine voyages across the known world aboard his ship. He amassed a fortune that made House Velaryon wealthier than even the Lannisters, and his naval power proved crucial in the Dance. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Sea Snake. While Corlys did serve on the Small Council, his legendary title comes from his nine great voyages. “Lord of the Tides” is the formal title of the head of House Velaryon, but “The Sea Snake” is his personal epithet. NEXT → 08 The Season 1 finale ends with a devastating loss for Rhaenyra when one of her sons is killed in a dragonback confrontation. Which son does she lose, and who kills him? ALucerys, killed by Aemond and Vhagar BJacaerys, killed by Aegon and Sunfyre CJoffrey, killed by Daeron and Tessarion DLucerys, killed by Daemon and Caraxes ✓ Correct! Lucerys Velaryon, riding his young dragon Arrax, was pursued and killed by Aemond on the colossal Vhagar above Shipbreaker Bay near Storm’s End. The show portrays this as partly accidental — Vhagar acted on her own — but the result ignited the Dance of the Dragons into open war. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lucerys, killed by Aemond and Vhagar. Luke was sent as an envoy to Storm’s End but was confronted by Aemond. The massive Vhagar devoured young Arrax and his rider above Shipbreaker Bay — the act that turned a succession dispute into a full-scale civil war. REVEAL MY SCORE → Dragonstone Archives · Sealed by Fire Your Dragon Rider Record 🐉 / 8 Did you ride to glory — or fall from the sky? ↻ DANCE AGAIN This leads to the Second Battle of Tumbleton, at which Hugh is quickly killed. Ulf, on the other hand, sleeps through the entire battle after getting drunk at a nearby inn, and so survives the events. Still, it's only a short reprieve. The surviving members of the Caltrops continue with their plot to kill Ulf, leading to Hobert Hightower, the cousin of Ormund who takes control of their host after his death, coming up with the idea to poison him. Hobert presents Ulf with two casks of wine, one Arbor gold and one Dornish red, with the former having been poisoned due to it being the dragonrider's preferred vintage. Ulf was suspicious during the exchange and would only drink the gold wine if Hobert did so first. Hightower reluctantly accepted rather than giving away the plan, drinking a cup, which satisfied Ulf's suspicions. He drank three cups, and while Hobert tried to vomit up the wine, it was to no avail: both men died from the poisoning. This leaves Silverwing without a rider. Initially, a reward is offered to any man who can claim her, but after a couple of them die in the attempt, interest soon wanes. Silverwing later becomes wild, living in the Reach and never taking another rider, though she is one of the only dragons to survive the Dance of the Dragons. How House Of The Dragon Has Changed Ulf's Story Ollie Upton/HBO Ulf siding with the Greens was taken straight out of the pages of Fire & Blood, and probably wasn't a major surprise to non-book readers either, given his displeasure with how Rhaenyra was treating him, not even allowing him one (1) ale with the lads. However, his double betrayal was an invention for the show, giving the finale an extra plot twist. Some of the events remain similar: the town is destroyed by dragonfire, Ormund dies fighting Roddy, but Ulf is just working against the Blacks. This change makes Ulf's future in House of the Dragon season 4 harder to predict. He obviously isn't remaining at Tumbleton, nor is he with Hugh the Hammer. Indeed, given the death of Hugh's wife, it's possible that Ulf will be among those he wants vengeance upon. It certainly seems impossible to imagine the Caltrops plot as part of the show's fourth and final season now, nor would there be any reason for Ulf to be involved in the Second Battle at Tumbleton (and, really, this does the whole "he sits out the battle" story anyway). Because of that, it seems more plausible that Ulf will eventually be found, captured, and brought to whatever those who do so deem to be justice (or punishment), which will no doubt mean his death regardless of which side finds him first. It also raises the small possibility that Ulf simply survives, and is able to escape to a happy life of drinking, but it's hard to stay under the radar when you have a large dragon. It could even be that House of the Dragon still has Ulf poisoned, or just drinking himself to death, but it's going to be quite different from Fire & Blood, however it happens. Release Date August 21, 2022 Network HBO Directors Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel Cast Fabien Frankel Ser Criston Cole Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria.