Caraxes

Caraxes, known as the Bloody One, was a dragon, apparently male, ridden by Aemon Targaryen during the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and later by Daemon Targaryen.

Known for his ferocity, he was slender and blood red in color. As the years went by, he became more and more formidable and seasoned.

History

Aemon Targaryen

Caraxes spent his early years in Fossedragon, where he distinguished himself by his ferocity, earning him the nickname Bloody, given to him by the Dragon Keepers.

In the year 72, Prince Aemon Targaryen became the Dragonlord of Caraxes. Riding his dragon, he participated in the fourth Dornian war in 83, alongside his father Jaehaerys I, riding Vermithor, and his brother Baelon, riding Vhagar.

During the third moon of the year 92, Aemon flies on Caraxes to the island of Tarth, where Myrian pirates are causing trouble. At night, Aemon and Lord Cameron Torth make their plans of attack while Caraxes devours half a dozen goats.

The dragon's fire attracts the attention of the Myrian scouts. One of them recognizes Lord Tarth and fires a crossbow at him, but he hits Prince Aemon, who perishes.

Daemon Targaryen

Daemon Targaryen claims Caraxes at an unknown date. He travels a lot on the back of his dragon. He travels back and forth to Peyredragon and beyond and brings gifts to his niece Rhaenyra.

However, in the year 105, King Viserys I Targaryen declares his daughter Rhaenyra the official heir, keeping Daemon away from his succession. Furious, the latter leaves for Peyredragon on Caraxes with his mistress, Mysaria.

The following year, Prince Daemon Targaryen joined forces with Lord Corlys Velaryon to storm the Stone Degrees held by the Triarchy.

Since their enemies had no dragons, Caraxes was a considerable asset. Although his enemies have learned to hide when they see or hear Caraxes, they are powerless to fight back.

In the year 111, Daemon returns to King's Landing on his dragon for the tournament given in honor of the fifth wedding anniversary of his brother and Lady Alicent Hightower. He stayed there for at least six months, during which time he regularly rode his dragon accompanied by his niece Rhaenyra Targaryen on Syrax.

In the year 115, Daemon married Laena Velaryon, who rode the dragon Vhagar. On their dragons, the couple travels around Essos, passing through Pentos, Volantis, Qohor and Norvos.

Everywhere they go, the population is amazed by the dragons. On their return to Lamarck, the couple often fly together with Rhaenyra Targaryen on her dragon Syrax, who lays eggs on several occasions.

In the year 120, when Laena Velaryon is dying after a difficult delivery, Daemon rides Caraxes to fetch Maester Gerardys from Peyredragon to heal her, but they return too late.

During the Dance of the Dragons

In the year 129, Viserys I Targaryen dies, triggering the Dance of the Dragons between the Blacks of Rhaenyra and the Greens of Aegon II Targaryen. His dragonlord being Rhaenyra's consort, Caraxes is a valuable support as he is one of the most seasoned dragons alive.

However, Prince Daemon Targaryen is cautious, refusing to take the risk of pitting the Black dragons against the Green dragons, the outcome of such a fight being too uncertain.

He develops a strategy, where dragons will be used less as weapons than as leverage. He plans to take Harrenhal in order to offer their allies in the Conflans a safe rallying point.

To carry out his plan, Prince Daemon flies through the Conflans to Harrenhal, where he lands on the tower of the King's Wood. Ser Simon Fort, governor of the fortress, unwilling to suffer the fate of Harren the Black, surrenders the castle without resistance.

The lords of the river, supporters of Rhaenyra, having gathered in Harrenhal, Daemon Targaryen leads a short campaign against the supporters of Aegon II. Mounted on Caraxes, he seized the Hague-Stone, marking the first military victory for the Blacks.

Caraxes stayed in Harrenhal until the end of the year. At the beginning of 130, Daemon learned that an enemy ost was marching on Harrenhal. He abandons the empty fortress to take King's Landing, stripped of its defenders.

The appearance of Caraxes signals action to the King's Landing watch, which is still loyal to Daemon. In the skies over the capital, Daemon and Caraxes are joined by Rhaenyra, who has mounted Syrax.

Daemon and Caraxes land in the Red Keep first, to make sure they are safe, before signaling Rhaenyra to come down.

Soon after, Daemon and Caraxes take to the air again, accompanied by the dragoness Nettles mounted on Sheep Thief. They track down Prince Aemond Targaryen, supporter of Aegon II and dragonlord of the terrible Vhagar.

They reside in Viergétang, flying every day in search of their prey. Daemon refuses to part with Nettles, which would allow them to cover more space, because separately, none of their dragons is a match for Vhagar.

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra condemns Orties to death, because she suspects her of treason. Warned by the people of House Mouton, the dragonriders are said to have separated.

According to Master Norren's Chronicles of Viergétang, as Voleur-de-Mouton and Orties take off, Caraxès lets out a scream that shatters the windows of Jonquil's tower. Daemon then returns to Harrenhal to await his enemy Aemond.

The arrival of Caraxes scares off the intruders who have been in Harrenhal since the castle was abandoned. The prince roams the halls of Harrenhal with his dragon, waiting thirteen days before his nephew Aemond arrives mounted on Vhagar.

The dragons look at each other and Caraxes spits out flames and spreads his wings. The two princes exchange a few words before taking off, but Daemon does not fasten the straps that usually connect the dragon rider's belt to the saddle of his mount.

Lighter and faster, Caraxès climbs quickly to the clouds, where he hides from Vhagar. Eventually, he swoops down on her, hissing and spitting fire, and grabs her neck, dragging her to the ground.

Despite the grip of the bite, Vhagar bites her wing and his claws rip her open. In a deadly fall, both dragons fall to the waters of the Œildieu.

It is said that Daemon jumped from his saddle onto Vhagar, plunging Noire Sœur into his nephew's gouged eye just as the dragons hit the water.

The resulting spray of water reached the height of the King's Wood tower, the highest in Harrenhal. However, Caraxes managed to get out of the lake to die on the shore. Daemon's body was never found.