House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 ends with a reveal that explains how one of the most infamous moments in George R.R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood actually came to be. The HBO show reveals that the reason why two of Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) most powerful allies will eventually betray her has less to do with their poor characters and more to do with the machinations of one Ormund Hightower (James Norton)…

**Spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7, now streaming on HBO Max**

House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 finally reveals exactly why Ormund Hightower is feeling so confident about the impending Battle of Tumbleton, despite the odds being so stacked against him and the rest of the Greens. While Prince Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) and Ser Gwayne (Freddie Fox) are lamenting Ormund’s insanity in private, the Machiavellian commander has been secretly meeting up with one of the Black’s dragonriders.

In the final moments of this week’s House of the Dragon, we learn that Ormund has been visiting Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) during the nights when Hugh the Hammer (Kieran Bew) is away. In these meetings, Ormund flatters the orphan from Flea Bottom. He pours the tavern-frequenter the best ale around and mentions that his operatives have seen the horrible ways in which Daemon (Matt Smith) has publicly humiliated Ulf in front of his peers.

Ormund isn’t just befriending the dragonrider; he’s promising him Driftmark and the title of Lord of the Tides. Essentially, Ormund is stealing Rhaenyra’s firepower from her, setting the stage for Ulf — and maybe even Hugh — to turn the tide at Tumbleton by turning their coats mid-battle.

Of course, this isn’t the only major twist in this week’s House of the Dragon. As it turns out, Team Green still has yet another dragon on the board…

House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7 Ending Explained: What is Ormund Doing with Ulf? All About George R.R. Martin’s “Two Betrayers” Twist During the Battle of Tumbleton

Well, well, well… We finally know how Ormund Hightower intends to win the Battle of Tumbleton — and it conveniently lines up with exactly what happens in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood.

Ormund has plotted to eliminate the threat posed by Hugh the Hammer on Vermithor and Ulf the White on Silverwing by wooing the dragonseeds to the Greens. While we don’t know if he’s reached out to Hugh, we defintely now know that he’s been paying visits to Ulf. During these chats, Ormund has been flattering Ulf, gaining his trust, and exacerbating his dislike of Rhaenyra and Daemon. Ulf and Ormund are basically buddy-buddy now, with Ormund promising Ulf not just any castle, but the legendary seat of the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint): Driftmark.

Even if Ormund has only turned Ulf against the Blacks, that could be enough to get both dragonriders stationed outside Tumbleton to join the Greens. In last week’s episode, Hugh finally reunited with his wife Kat (Ellora Torchia), who essentially rejected him for choosing to abandon her in favor of taming a dragon. Now, Hugh has nothing to live for and Ulf could easily direct that anger towards Rhaenyra, who put Hugh in this position in the first place.

So are Ulf and Hugh officially Team Green? Not quite yet, but don’t be shocked if they suddenly switch sides during the upcoming Battle of Tumbleton. In Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra’s forces appear to have the upper hand until Ulf and Hugh switch sides and burn the market town to cinders. This horrific act earns the men the shared moniker of the “Two Betrayers” and sets them down a dark path for the rest of the war.

We’ll have to wait to see if House of the Dragon does this in its version of the first battle of Tumbleton, but it’s looking likely.

Is Sunfyre Alive in House of the Dragon?

Sunfyre is officially alive and well in House of the Dragon!

In this week’s episode, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), Larys (Matthew Needham), and Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) are thwarted in their plans to hire a ship east when House Mooten — which is loyal to Rhaenyra — begin sweeping the area looking for Tyland and his hidden gold. Overwhelmed by the Mooten army, Aegon makes a rare brave decision to make one last stand as himself against their forces. Only Tyland Lannister joins him.

Just when it seems as though all is lost, Aegon finally summons the courage to announce himself to the soldiers about to kill him. They are immediately cowed, but not by Aegon. A newly resurrected Sunfyre has arrived to “dracarys” them all.

A few weeks back, Aegon went to Sunfyre and explained that he was certain the mystical creature was still alive.

“I think any dragon rider has a sort of sixth sense,” Glynn-Carney told DECIDER. “I compare it to the relationship I have with my dog, who is my best friend, and knows me better than most people, and I can read his mind. I feel like it’s the same with Sunfyre.”

No one believed Aegon, but he was right. Sunfyre survived the Battle of Rook’s Rest and came to his master’s aid at his hour of need.

The House of the Dragon Season 3 finale will be on HBO and HBO Max next Sunday, August 9 at 9 PM ET.