'House of the Dragon' 3 Finale Ending Explained: Battle of Tumbleton changes everything for the Targaryens
The highly anticipated 'Battle of Tumbleton' is finally here, and it is safe to say it did not disappoint. The 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 finale opens with Rhaenyra breaking down at the news that Aegon, and most importantly, his dragon Sunfyre, are still alive. She immediately goes to Daemon, who steadies her as she faces this forthcoming challenge. The Queen then instructs him to go ahead with the Tumbleton attack and "go house-to-house to root out every Hightower." She also asks Hugh (her 'loyalist') to position himself outside the Dragonpit.
The Green and Black forces are seen preparing for the decisive battle. As Daemon storms the gates, Daeron is wistfully looking over the departing Hightower army from a window. Before the battle, Daeron is made a knight by Ormund and also honored as 'Daeron the Daring.' Daeron then accompanies Gwayne to oversee the preparations. Even though he did not make it evident before Ormund, Daeron realizes that they are at a huge disadvantage against the Black forces. Gwayne agrees with him but knows that they still have to fight "bravely and pointlessly." Daeron looks at Ormund and quickly realizes that his secret plot against Daemon's forces has not materialized. Alicent's son, seeing the army fighting on his behalf, decides to "take wing against the enemy." Gwayne, afraid for his nephew, takes Corlys' help.
Daemon arrives with the Winter Wolves and Tully forces at the gates of Tumbleton. There, he is met by Gwayne along with Corlys. Gwayne negotiates for peace with Daemon and his forces. He understands they will not survive even a night if the Black forces attack. He asks Daemon to consider dividing the realm. Gwayne asks them to give Daeron Oldtown, while Rhaenyra rules everything else in the realm. Just when Daemon is about to laugh off the suggestion, he is taken aback by Corlys' support of it. He also recommends giving Daeron Oldtown and making him "Lord Paramount of the Reach." Rhaenyra's hand tries to make Daemon understand that there are still great houses that agree with the precedent that a "woman cannot rule." Giving away Oldtown to Daeron is a good way to suppress conflicts with those houses.
Corlys suggests marrying Rhaena and Daeron to solidify this alliance and finally bring the 'peace' this civil war has cruelly taken away. Daemon refuses the offer, taking Corlys as a prisoner and sending Gwayne to inform Ormund of their imminent arrival. While deciding on how to attack, Daemon is shocked by the news that the Hightowers have "fortified their numbers" with children. Keeping in mind Rhaenyra's order to save common folk, Daemon instructs Lord Roderick to attack first, enter the town, and then open the gates from within. Right before the battle, Daemon encourages his forces with a scintillating address. "Grant no mercy! Give no quarter! I don't want the best of you, I want the worst," he declares to the soldiers.
The bloody battle ensues, and it is clear that the Black forces are taking it away. Doubts creep into Daemon's mind when Ulf is nowhere to be found, and Hugh Hammer's dragon also appears on the battlefield. Ulf has already seemingly betrayed Rhaenyra. He drunkenly claims to common folks that Daemon will "quake before the mighty and terrible Lord Ulf the White." However, he is nowhere to be seen on the battlefield. Ormund understands that Ulf, and specifically his dragon Silverwing, are the only way victory can be his, and quickly leaves with his men to look for him.
Ormund finds him out of his wits in a bathroom stall. Lord Hightower beats him up on the streets and orders him to mount his beast to save the day. He does so and takes out heaps of Black forces, but also kills Ormund by fire after he is severely injured by Roderick. Roderick enters Tumbleton with brute force, while Daemon rides on Caraxes and burns several Green soldiers. Daemon also doesn't spare children in his pursuit to end the Hightowers. After the gates are opened for Black forces, Roderick begins searching for the 'Boy King' and also gets his hands on 'Lord Hightower.' Ormund manages to overwhelm him, cutting off his hand. But the strategist is nowhere near the Winter Wolf in terms of physical prowess. Even without a hand, Roderick manages to stab him. Ultimately, both of them die at the hands of Ulf.
Roxton manages to overwhelm 'Babe Killer' Daemon, but the latter is saved in time by Silverwing's fire, which is now mercilessly targeting both Green and Black forces. On the other side, Gwayne pleads with Daeron to escape and "not die for Ormund's vanity." Just as Daeron is about to take a call, they hear Silverwing's bellowing and see the dragon come to their rescue. However, the happiness is short-lived, as they also learn about the merciless rampage. When Gwayne wakes up, Daeron is nowhere to be found. In one poignant moment, Daemon realizes the damage the war has cost, but there is now no option but to go on. As the 'Rogue Prince' delivers blows, Seasmoke arrives to inform him that "Ulf has turned" and the "city is lost." The forces now need to go back.
Apart from the 'Battle of Tumbleton,' the episode also features Rhaenyra's descent into madness as she kills the Septon, hurts Helaena, and more to justify her rule. Helaena falls to her death after being subjected to prolonged mental harassment. Aemond and Aegon also reunite to take over King's Landing. To find out how the Targaryen Civil War ends, fans will have to wait for 'House of the Dragon' Season 4 only on HBO.
