Summary
Various houses declare their allegiances to the blacks and the greens. The Blackwoods side with Rhaenyra and defeat the Brackens in the riverlands, securing the region. Aegon is shaken to learn that many of his efforts to secure allegiances are rejected, as the Starks, Arryns, and Tarlys declare for Rhaenyra, while the Martells and Greyjoys remain uninvolved. Aegon ousts his grandfather Otto as Hand and replaces him with Criston Cole, Alicent's close ally with a bitter dislike of Rhaenyra. At Criston's suggestion, Aegon has several of Rhaenyra's allies executed.
Aegon attacks Duskendale and then goes on to invade Rook's Rest. There he clashes with Rhaenys and her dragon Meraxes. Meraxes brutally wounds Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre, before being killed by Aemond's dragon, Vhagar. Rhaenys is killed in the battle, as is Meraxes. Aegon and Sunfyre survive, but both are badly wounded, Sunfyre losing a wing and Aegon suffering severe burns and many broken bones. Aemond and Vhagar are unscathed. Corlys is devastated by the loss of his wife. Jacaerys names him Hand of the Queen in an effort to keep him from leaving their side. Meanwhile, Daemon seeks out other potential dragonriders.
Jacaerys dies in a conflict with Lysene warriors following their abduction of his brother Viserys, dealing the Blacks another terrible blow. Aemond and Criston head south, with their men, to reclaim Harrenhal. They discover it abandoned and believe they have won it, not knowing that Daemon had departed it earlier, knowing that they were coming. A northern detachment known as the Winter Wolves, lead by Roderick Dustin, decimates the Lannister army in a battle near the lake known as the God's Eye. Jason Lannister dies shortly thereafter.
Enraged by the loss of her son, Rhaenyra takes her dragon, Syrax, and descends on King's Landing, taking it easily, as both Aemond and Criston are away. She has Otto beheaded and Alicent imprisoned. Alicent begs for a brokered peace in which Aegon and Rhaenyra split their rule of Westeros, but Rhaenyra angrily rejects this idea. Dalton Greyjoy declares for the blacks and sacks the Lannister stronghold of Lannisport. Criston Cole is killed in the riverlands when he and his men are ambushed. Daemon seeks out Aemond and Vhagar in the same region, traveling with the dragonrider Nettles and her dragon Sheepstealer. Aegon is smuggled into Dragonstone by Larys Strong, rejoining with Sunfyre who regains his ability to fly. Aegon retakes Dragonstone and captures Daemon's daughter Baela.
Daemon and Aemond engage in a dragon battle above the God's Eye that ends with both of them dying. Rhaenyra loses Velaryon's support after imprisoning Corlys over his defense of the dragonrider Addam Velaryon. A failed revolt leads to unease in King's Landing that erupts into conflict when the people force their way into the dragonpit, attempting to kill the dragons that are kept there. Rhaenyra's son Joffrey attempts to climb on top of Syrax and is killed when she tosses him off. Rhaenyra flees the city.
Rhaenyra travels the realm, looking for safe lodging at various castles, but is eventually taken by Aegon's forces at Dragonstone. There, she is fed to Aegon's dragon while her son, Aegon III, looks on. Sunfyre dies days later and Aegon II arranges to return to King's Landing. Borros Baratheon is killed in a battle with the Blackwoods, leaving Aegon with few allies. Cregan Stark leads a massive Northern army south to King's Landing. Aegon is found dead, with wine on his lips, before the army arrives, supposedly having been poisoned.
In the "Hour of the Wolf," Cregan Stark executes various greens while taking on the role of Hand for young Aegon III. Following this settling of scores, Cregan returns North. Aegon III takes the throne and is guided by various regents.
Analysis
War is an important theme in this part of the book. During the Dance of Dragons, the realm is torn apart by conflict. Families are decimated, castles destroyed, and everyone lives in fear. The conflict resolves nothing and leaves both sides with heavy casualties. Mounting demands for retribution for various wrongs leads the conflict to continually escalate before reaching its conclusion. The book spends a great deal of time detailing the significant toll the drawn-out war takes on every part of the Seven Kingdoms, showing the questionable value of engaging in this violence.
One of the most notable aspects of the end of the war is the death of both Rhaenyra and Aegon. Rhaenyra is captured and fed to Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre, while Aegon is poisoned before he can be caught by the approaching army outside King's Landing. Rhaenyra's side technically "wins" the war, as Cregan Stark defeats the greens and crowns Rhaenyra's son, Aegon III. However, it is a kind of pyrrhic victory, as almost everyone on Rhaenyra's side, including Daemon, Lucerys, Jacaerys, Joffrey, and Rhaenys, is dead by the end of the war. Their deaths signal the way that this conflict essentially has no real winner, as neither side is able to hold onto power.
Reconciliation is dealt with at the end of this section, as Cregan Stark installs Aegon III on the throne and begins the slow process of sorting out the remaining members of the small council and executing certain members of the green faction. His actions assist in setting up Aegon's rule and giving it some degree of stability in the aftermath of civil war. Cregan is also important to the end of war, as he guides King's Landing through the period of uncertainty following the surrender of the greens. Furthermore, his decision to take on the role of Hand only temporarily shows that he, unique among the characters in the book, chooses to act out of honor and duty, not self-interest and greed.
Justice also appears as a theme in this section of the book. Cregan is upset when he discovers that Aegon has died, likely by suicide, as he believes that he should be punished for wanton cruelty and selfishness. In an effort to make sure there is some form of justice, or at least retribution, for these crimes, he carries out numerous executions and sends many prisoners to the wall, to join the Night's Watch. While frustrated by the inability to make Aegon atone for his actions, Cregan seeks to find a way to make individuals answer for the wrongs committed. At the same time, he also punishes those involved in his murder. His actions are distinct from the revenge-driven cruelties of both the greens and the blacks in that they are not personal or particularly emotional, but rather guided by a desire for justice. He regards regicide as a crime, even if he is intent on punishing Aegon II himself.
This part of the book goes into great depth as it details the human cost of the Dance. It is a war that leaves both of its instigators dead and the realm in shambles. Martin powerfully frames the way in which the attrition experienced by both sides ultimately makes its final outcome largely meaningless. Aegon III takes the throne, with the crucial help of Cregan Stark, but he is scarred from witnessing the horrible death of his mother and he inherits a kingdom in shambles.
