Who is Nettles, and will she appear in House of the Dragon Season 3?

House of the Dragon continues to reveal warriors from George R.R. Martin’s world. As the story unfolds, characters from Fire and Blood will take their place in the tale. The Dragonseeds bring a new dimension to the narrative. However, there are some characters from the books who may not appear in the show, such as the lowborn dragonseed Nettles. Here is everything we know about her.

Who was Nettles?

Credits: Hylora

Nettles grew up as a lowborn girl on Driftmark Island. She tamed the wild dragon Sheepstealer through patience and daily offerings. Her bond with the dragon made her a key figure during the Dance of the Dragons.

Quick facts

House of the Dragon

•  The wild dragon Sheepstealer appears in Season 2
• Nettles has not yet appeared in the show
• Rhaena Targaryen encounters Sheepstealer
• Rhaena Targaryen’s character may have been merged with Nettles

Fire and Blood

• She became a dragonrider at sixteen
• She fought in the Battle of the Gullet
• She escaped to the Mountains of the Moon
• The Painted Dogs clan worshipped her as a fire witch
• She developed a close relationship with Prince Daemon

In House of the Dragon

Credits: HBO

Exclusion from the show

Nettles has not appeared in House of the Dragon yet. The showrunners maintain silence about her future appearance. Her character might face removal from the show’s narrative. Many book characters share this fate in the adaptation.

Sheepstealer plays a significant role in Season 2. Rhaena Targaryen encounters this dragon in the Vale of Arryn. This meeting creates speculation about Nettles’s potential introduction. Some fans believe Rhaena might take Nettles’s storyline.

The show presents Sheepstealer as a wild, untamed creature. Daemon identifies it as one of three wild dragons on Dragonstone. The dragon migrates to the Vale during the Dance. Rhaena and Joffrey discover signs of its presence near the Eyrie.

They find charred livestock bones in their search. The dragon soars through the Vale’s skies freely. It shows aggressive behavior toward Rhaena’s approaches. Sheepstealer maintains its preference for sheep in the show. This detail aligns with the source material’s description.

The dragon’s continued wild state leaves room for future developments. Season 3 might introduce new elements to this storyline. The show runners keep possibilities open for Nettles’s introduction.

Read More: Getting Ready For House of The Dragon : Meet The Dragons – Part 7

In Fire and Blood

Credits: Ertaç Altınöz

Early life and origins

Nettles came from uncertain beginnings in the Crownlands. Sources connect her birth to Driftmark Island. A dockside whore gave birth to her, according to records. Her appearance set her apart from others. She had brown skin and black hair. Her brown eyes marked her common birth. A scarred nose and crooked teeth completed her description. Archamaester Gyldayn noted her unconventional looks. Traditional beauty standards did not apply to her.

Her personality drew more attention than her appearance. She used rough language without restraint. Personal cleanliness held little importance to her. Yet courage defined her character above all else. She moved between different locations in childhood. Spicetown and Hull became her temporary homes. Septon Eustace recorded her nose’s scarring story. Thieves caught her stealing in her youth. They marked her face as punishment.

Her life changed direction through the Dragonseeds. Jacaerys’s search for riders created this opportunity. The Blacks needed more dragonriders for their cause. Some dragons had lost their previous riders. Others remained wild without any bonds. The Sowing began to address this need. Nettles joined this effort at sixteen years old.

She chose Sheepstealer as her target. The dragon earned its name through its habits. Local shepherds lost flocks to its hunger. Nettles developed her own taming method. Daily sheep offerings built their connection. The dragon grew to accept her presence. Their bond strengthened over time. She claimed her place as its first rider.

During the Dance of Dragons

The Blacks welcomed Nettles into their ranks. Sheepstealer gave them additional dragon power. The Battle of the Gullet tested her combat skills. This sea battle claimed many lives. Prince Jacaerys died during this conflict. Other dragonseeds celebrated their victory. Hugh Hammer and Ulf White showed particular joy. Nettles chose to honor the fallen prince instead.

She proved her worth in the Fall of King’s Landing. Witnesses saw Sheepstealer land on Visenya’s Hill. Prince Daemon created search parties for specific targets. He sought Aemond and Vhagar across the Riverlands. Nettles joined these search efforts personally. They established operations from Maidenpool’s castle.

Their time together sparked different stories. Maester Norren recorded his observations carefully. He noted their separate sleeping arrangements. The maester saw a father-daughter dynamic. Mushroom told a different version of events. He claimed romantic involvement between them.

Norren documented Daemon’s generosity toward Nettles. The maester noted shared bathing sessions, too. Their relationship drew increasing attention. Castle staff spread various rumors. Their close partnership raised questions. Different sources interpreted their bond differently. The truth remained unclear to historians. Their connection affected later events significantly.

Escape and aftermath

The first battle of Tumbleton changed everything. Ulf White and Hugh Hammer betrayed their allies. This action damaged trust in all dragonseeds. Addam Velaryon fled from imprisonment attempts. His escape increased suspicion toward others. Lady Mysaria complicated the situation further. Her past with Daemon influenced her actions. Jealousy might have motivated her moves against Nettles. She spread rumors about Daemon’s loyalty.

These stories reached Rhaenyra from Maidenpool. The queen responded with immediate anger. She declared Nettles a witch with dangerous powers. Orders for execution reached Maidenpool quickly. Lord Manfryd Mooton received these commands. He hesitated to harm his protected guest. Maester Norren recorded these events carefully.

Fear of Daemon likely influenced Lord Manfryd’s choices. He ignored the queen’s letter deliberately. Norren warned Daemon about the situation. Daemon identified Mysaria’s role quickly. He helped prepare Nettles’s escape plan. She fed Sheepstealer one final time. Tears marked her departure toward the Bay of Crabs. No farewell words passed between them. Caraxes’s cry marked their separation dramatically.

Legacy and final tales

Rhaenyra’s fury grew with Nettles’s escape. Daemon chose Harrenhal over returning to court. He awaited Aemond’s arrival there. The Battle Above the God’s Eye followed soon after. Aemond died in this legendary conflict. Daemon’s fate remained mysterious afterward. Stories claimed he reunited with Nettles later.

King Aegon II received reports about Sheepstealer. The dragon appeared near Crackclaw Point briefly. Aegon’s death changed the political situation again. King Aegon III, Rhaenyra’s son, took power next. A Vale succession crisis revealed new information. Ser Robert Rowan led forces toward the Eyrie.

His men discovered Sheepstealer in a mountain cave. Nettles lived there, changed by time and isolation. A battle claimed sixteen of Rowan’s men. Many more suffered injuries in the fight. Nettles and Sheepstealer escaped deeper into the mountains. The Painted Dogs clan created new legends.

They worshipped a mysterious fire witch. Their traditions included dragon-related rituals. They brought gifts to their hidden leader. Members burned their hands to prove their loyalty. These stories suggested Nettles’s survival. Her influence continued through mountain clan traditions.

Quotes

“No word of farewell was spoken betwixt man and maid, but as Sheepstealer beat his leathery brown wings and climbed into the dawn sky, Caraxes raised his head and gave a scream that shattered every window in Jonquil’s Tower. High above the town, Nettles turned her dragon toward the Bay of Crabs, and vanished in the morning mists, never to be seen again at court or castle.” – Fire and Blood

Quick answers

Does Nettles appear in House of the Dragon?

Nettles has not appeared in House of the Dragon through Season 2. The showrunners have not confirmed her future appearance.

How did Nettles tame Sheepstealer?

Nettles brought a freshly slaughtered sheep to Sheepstealer every morning. This daily ritual built trust between them.

What happened to Nettles after her escape?

Reports placed Nettles in the Mountains of the Moon. The Painted Dogs clan worshipped a fire witch with a dragon, suggesting her survival.

What was Nettles’s relationship with Daemon?

Different sources dispute their relationship. Maester Norren claimed a father-daughter bond, while Mushroom suggested a romantic connection.

Read More: Legendary Valyrian Steel Swords to look out for in House of The Dragon: Part 1

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10/26/2024 12:12 pm GMT