The Stark Army In House Of The Dragon's Season 2 Finale: What It Sets Up & Where Cregan Is

WARNING: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based.

Summary House of the Dragon season 2's finale saw the Winter Wolves put together Cregan Stark.

The Starks pledge loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra in the Dance of the Dragons conflict and play a major role in the war.

Cregan Stark becomes a key player in the aftermath of the war.

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 8 teased that the Stark army will be part of many battles to come, with the appearance of the Winter Wolves teasing Cregan Stark’s role in the Dance of the Dragons. While season 1 took place mostly between King’s Landing and Dragonstone, the show has since expanded its scope with stories and characters from all across the Seven Kingdoms and even Essos. For example, House of the Dragon season 2's premiere introduced Cregan Stark, and although he was missing for the finale, the Lord of Winterfell will be very important.

Even though the Targaryen civil war started in the south of Westeros, such a high-stakes conflict was going to include the Starks and other Northern houses eventually. As soon as Aegon II Targaryen was crowned in King’s Landing, Rhaenyra started to gather up allies and enforce the vows they had made to her in front of King Viserys. Jacaerys Targaryen was sent to Winterfell, where he discussed the inevitable war with Cregan Stark and asked for the support of Winterfell. Cregan reaffirmed his loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra and agreed to send swords to her cause.

Related House Of The Dragon Season 3: Cast, Story & Everything We Know The Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon returned for its long-awaited second season in 2024, and now season 3 is confirmed.

House Of The Dragon's Northern Army Are The Winter Wolves

The North Has Pledged Their Loyalty To Queen Rhaenyra

The Northern army shown in House of the Dragon season 2’s finale is the Winter Wolves, a group of relatively old bannermen from houses sworn to the Starks such as Manderly and Dustin. While not the most refined soldiers, these greybeards can be vicious warriors in times of need. Cregan initially warned Jace that House Stark could not send all their finest warriors to the south considering there was too much happening in the north, yet that he would give Rhaenyra a significant amount of greybeards who would fight loyally for her.

As proven several times in Game of Thrones, the Starks have always been known for their loyalty.

However, given that the Dance of the Dragons only escalated after Jace visited Winterfell, Cregan Stark is now fully aware that the fate of the realm lies in how this conflict will be settled. As proven several times in Game of Thrones, the Starks have always been known for their loyalty. Having pledged their loyalty to Viserys’ appointed heir, Rhaenyra, Cregan is ready to lead his house’s bannermen against the greens. Cregan does not appear in the season 2 finale, and it is unclear whether he is marching with the Winter Wolves.

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Which Battles The Winter Wolves Fight In

The Winter Wolves Have Some Big Victories

via HBO

In Fire & Blood, the Winter Wolves are led by Roderick Dustin of Barrowton. Marching from Winterfell and sailing from the White Harbor, these Northern soldiers properly joined the war following the fall of King’s Landing, after which Rhaenyra sat on the Iron Throne but still had plenty of enemies to defeat. With Aegon missing and House Hightower’s supporters still mobilized to reclaim the throne, a series of battles continued to happen as Rhaenyra tried to rule. The Winter Wolves’ first major battle in the Dance was the Battle by the Lakeshore against the Lannister host.

Cregan Stark is Ned Stark's great-great-great-great-grandfather.

The Northern army was also involved in the death of Ser Criston Cole south of Harrenhal, a major victory for Rhaenyra that put an end to months of battles in the Riverlands. The remaining soldiers would join the rest of Team Black’s army in the First Battle of Tumbleton, during which Ormund Hightower was killed. The Winter Wolves had suffered many casualties, though, and after the betrayals of Ulf and Hugh at Tumbleton, most of the Northern men that had left Winterfell at the start of the war were dead.

Where Is Cregan & When Will He Return In House Of The Dragon?

Cregan Stark Plays A Major Role During (& After) The War

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

In the book, Cregan Stark does not join the battlefield initially, meaning he was not at Lakeshore or Tumbleton when the White Wolves fought against the Greens. However, once Rhaenyra had to flee King’s Landing following a series of riots, Cregan Stark gathered a new army to help the queen reclaim the city and put an end to the war once and for all. Rhaenyra’s death by dragonfire and Aegon II’s return to King’s Landing did not change Cregan’s plan – he would continue to march in front of his Northen army to take down the usurpers.

Aegon III, the oldest son of Rhaenyra and Daemon, becomes king after the death of Aegon II. Cregan Stark briefly serves as his hand.

Cregan Stark will return in House of the Dragon, and it is safe to say he is one of the most important players in the show outside of the Targaryens and Hightowers. House of the Dragon may even spend more time with Cregan than Fire & Blood does during the actual war so that his presence in the aftermath feels more earned. Cregan will be particularly important in House of the Dragon after the deaths of Rhaenyra and Aegon, which leads into a period of transition led by Lord Stark that became known as the Hour of the Wolf.