Blood

[FP1997]

Blood (right) and Cheese (left) in House of the Dragon.

• Occupation: Former Gold Cloak Serjeant

• Traits: Strong swordsman, disloyal and cruel

• Family: Unknown.

• Famous quote: “It has to be a boy..”

Blood was a lowborn assassin and a key figure during the tumultuous period of the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war within House Targaryen over the Iron Throne. Known for his brutal methods and willingness to carry out the darkest tasks, Blood played a crucial role in one of the most infamous acts of vengeance in Westerosi history.

Origin of Blood

Blood's real name has been lost to history, but his notorious moniker reflects his violent nature. He was once a serjeant in the City Watch of King's Landing, a position that granted him some authority but also exposed him to the underbelly of the city. His career in the City Watch ended abruptly when he was dismissed for beating a whore to death in a drunken rage. This violent outburst set the tone for his later life, marking him as a man capable of extreme brutality.

After losing his position in the City Watch, Blood turned to a life of crime, using his skills and knowledge of King's Landing to survive. His violent reputation and willingness to take on dangerous tasks made him a sought-after figure in the city's criminal underworld. It was this reputation that eventually brought him to the attention of Prince Daemon Targaryen.

Bloody Revenge

Following the tragic death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon at the hands of Prince Aemond Targaryen, the Blacks, led by Rhaenyra Targaryen and her consort, Prince Daemon Targaryen, thirst for revenge. The murder of Lucerys becomes the catalyst for a cruel and calculated act of retribution designed to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies, the Greens.

Daemon Targaryen, grieving and enraged by the loss of his stepson, devises a sinister plan to exact vengeance. He enlists the help of his spymaster, Mysaria, who is known for her network of informants and operatives in King’s Landing. Through her connections, Daemon recruits two lowborn assassins for the gruesome task: Blood, a former sergeant of the City Watch dismissed for his violent tendencies, and Cheese, a ratcatcher with an intimate knowledge of the Red Keep’s secret passages.

The episode meticulously follows Blood and Cheese as they navigate the labyrinthine tunnels of the Red Keep, led by Cheese’s insider knowledge. The pair stealthily makes their way to the Tower of the Hand, where they find the chambers of Queen Alicent Hightower, the mother of King Aegon II Targaryen. Blood and Cheese lie in wait, hidden in the shadows, until the opportune moment to strike.

As night falls, Queen Helaena Targaryen, wife of King Aegon II, arrives in Heleana's chambers with her three children: Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor. The assassins spring their trap, quickly overpowering and killing Helaena’s guardsman. With cold precision, they hold Queen Heleana at knife-point.. The terror escalates as Blood and Cheese confront Helaena, seizing her youngest son, Prince Maelor.

In a chilling display of psychological torment, Cheese presents Helaena with an unthinkable ultimatum: she must choose which of her sons will die as retribution for the death of Lucerys. Desperate and distraught, Helaena pleads for her own life to be taken instead, but Blood and Cheese are unyielding. They insist it must be one of her sons and threaten further violence against her daughter, Princess Jaehaera, if she refuses to choose. Under extreme duress, Helaena names her youngest son, Maelor, in a bid to protect her older children.

In a gruesome twist, Blood and Cheese defy Helaena’s choice. Instead of killing Maelor, Blood mercilessly beheads Prince Jaehaerys, ensuring that Helaena’s torment is complete. The assassins escape into the night with Jaehaerys’s severed head as proof of their deed, leaving behind a scene of horror and grief.

Who plays Blood in House of the Dragon?

• Blood is portrayed by Sam C Wilson, an English actor who is well-known for his role in Dodger (2022)