In House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3, we learn that the green forces have continued to fight, despite Rhaenyra ascending the throne, and they have successfully taken the town of Tumbleton.
This is actually a hugely significant location in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, and it spells big trouble for Rhaenyra. Below, we've explained everything you need to know about Tumbleton in both the show and the book – though, that means there are major book spoilers ahead, which will most likely reveal the events of future episodes of the show. Turn back now if you don't want to know what might happen next!
Otherwise, for all you need to know about Tumbleton in House of the Dragon season 3, head below.
What is Tumbleton in House of the Dragon?
Tumbleton is a town that Ormund Hightower has captured for the greens, after apparently surrendering to Daemon – and volunteering a fake Daeron Targaryen to the Rogue Prince, too. The episode ends with Rhaenyra staring angrily into the bonfire of green heraldry taken from the Red Keep, so we can assume she'll have a plan to deal with the problem next episode.
What happens at Tumbleton in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood book? *Spoilers*
In Fire and Blood, Tumbleton is the site of two major, pivotal battles. In the first, the Winter Wolves, led by Roddy the Ruin, attack the green army despite being massively outnumbered. As you might expect from those tough northerners, though, they manage to deal a devastating blow to the Hightowers regardless. Roddy kills Ormund Hightower, though he then dies of his own wounds. RIP to a real one.
But the dragonseeds Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer betray Rhaenyra and join the green cause, and they use their dragons to burn Tumbleton. Then, the victorious forces, now leaderless, brutally sack what remains.
After Ulf and Hugh switch sides, Rhaenyra suspects Addam of Hull of being a traitor, too. To prove his loyalty, Addam flees, recruits a new army, and aims to retake Tumbleton from the Two Betrayers: this is the second battle.
By this point, the green army was in disarray without its leader, Ormund. Hugh wants to crown himself king on the strength of his dragon Vermithor, which sparks a plot to kill him and Ulf. Ulf drunkenly sleeps through the entire battle, but Hugh is killed by a green while attempting to mount Vermithor after the battle begins.
Prince Daeron, meanwhile, is also killed – though Fire and Blood presents three different ways he might have died. The first is that he was killed by a sellsword named Black Trombo, the second is that an anonymous soldier killed him, and the third is that he died when his tent, burning from Addam's attack, collapsed on him. The latter version is the one given the most credence in the book.
Daeron's dragon Tessarion, Vermithor, and Addam's dragon Seasmoke then battle in the skies, and all three dragons die. Addam also dies, and his tomb bears the word LOYAL.
While the battle wasn't strictly a success, since Tumbleton was not actually taken back by the black forces, it did deal a devastating blow to the greens by killing two of its dragons and its young prince.
House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.
For even more, check out our House of the Dragon season 3 review or our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.
