Ulf the White

Before the war, Ulf was nobody worth naming: a man-at-arms stationed on Dragonstone, pale-haired and fond of drink, with features that hinted at Valyrian blood nobody could place on the Targaryen family tree.

When Prince Jacaerys Velaryon called on the dragonseeds, offering lands and titles to anyone who could claim one of the riderless beasts, Ulf stepped forward. He succeeded, bonding with Silverwing, the dragon that had once carried Queen Alysanne across the skies of Westeros.

Shortly after claiming Silverwing, Ulf flew alongside the other Black dragons at the Battle of the Gullet, where the Triarchy's fleet was burned to ash off the coast of Dragonstone.

Once the slaughter was over, Ulf and Hugh Hammer — another smith turned dragonrider that same day — celebrated at a tavern on the island. Cups in hand, Ulf was already talking of lordships: if they had decided a battle astride dragons, something more than thanks was owed to them.

After King's Landing fell to the Blacks, Ulf and Hugh were knighted and granted lands at Duskendale's ferry crossing, a payment that already felt too small to Ulf.

Prince Daemon Targaryen proposed going further: marrying the two riders to the eldest daughters of the executed lords of Stokeworth and Rosby, so they would inherit castle and name. Lord Corlys Velaryon objected, arguing the lands should pass to the lords' sons, and Queen Rhaenyra agreed, wary of alienating the rest of her nobility.

Some time later, debating how to end the war, Daemon proposed a blunt solution: wipe out the Baratheons and the Lannisters and hand Storm's End to Ulf and Casterly Rock to Hugh. Lord Corlys, appalled, argued instead for a negotiated surrender.

The queen again sided with her Hand, though she insisted the rebellion of her own brothers had to be dealt with first. For Ulf, the promise of two of the realm's great castles was left hanging, unfulfilled.

Ulf and Hugh were sent to defend Tumbleton against the advance of Lord Ormund Hightower and Prince Daeron Targaryen, flying atop Tessarion. On reaching the field, they switched sides.

The chroniclers disagree on why: it may have been fear of facing a larger host or a rival dragon, resentment over lands they considered too meagre, or the hope that Aegon II — perhaps encouraged by Lord Larys Strong — would reward them better for restoring him to the throne.

The dragons burned Tumbleton until, in Grand Maester Munkun's words, it resembled a Field of Fire in miniature. Queen Rhaenyra, reeling from the news, lost her trust in the other dragonseeds still flying for her cause, Ser Addam Velaryon among them.

After the slaughter, Ulf gave himself over to wine and flesh without restraint: he raped three maidens each night and burned alive anyone who dared cross him. Prince Daeron named him Lord of Bitterbridge, but the seat felt like too little to Ulf.

He wanted Highgarden, and to justify it accused House Tyrell of treason for staying out of the war. He made his support for the final attack on King's Landing conditional on being handed the castle.

Weary of the Two Betrayers' ambitions, the lords of the Reach gathered at the inn of the Bloody Bramblewoods and agreed they had to be killed. Prince Daeron approved, but before they could act, the second Battle of Tumbleton broke out.

Ulf never even saw it: he slept through the whole battle under a table at the Whore's Own Table, the inn he had claimed for himself, deaf to the men trying to wake him. When he opened his eyes he found himself the last dragonrider left to the Greens: "Hammer is dead, and your young one too. Only I remain to you," he told Lord Unwin Peake. It was then that it occurred to him the Iron Throne might be his as well.

Ser Hobert Hightower summoned him the next day under the pretext of planning the attack on the capital, but he had brought poisoned wine. Ulf hesitated, noticing Hobert's nervousness, so Hobert drank first to reassure him. Three cups were enough: Ulf began to yawn, fell asleep, and never woke again. Ser Hobert met the same fate.