House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 Sets Up an Upcoming House Black Betrayal

The third episode of House of the Dragon Season 3 quietly planted the seeds for one of the most shocking betrayals during the Dance of the Dragons. While the episode focuses on Rhaenyra’s first few days as the new queen, several key moments foreshadow that not everyone fighting under her banner will remain loyal. Those hints point toward Ulf White and Hugh Hammer, who will later be known as the Two Betrayers in the history of Westeros.

The final scene of House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 revealed that the Hightower host has finally taken Tumbleton, which fans will immediately catch as a reference to the First Battle of Tumbleton. This major conflict is infamously remembered for the treason of Ulf and Hugh, who turned on the Blacks and burnt the town with dragonfire.

Series:	House of the Dragon
Showrunner:	Ryan Condal
Based on:	George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood
Rotten Tomatoes:	89% | 74% (As of July 7, 2026)

What Happens In House of the Dragon’s First Battle of Tumbleton?

The First Battle of Tumbleton begins with the Greens marching on one of Rhaenyra’s last strongholds between King’s Landing and the Reach. Lord Ormund Hightower leads a massive army toward the market town, while the Blacks scramble to defend it with forces from several loyal houses, including the Winter Wolves led by Lord Roderick Dustin.

Rhaenyra also sends dragonseeds Ulf White and Hugh Hammer to Tumbleton, seemingly giving her side an overwhelming aerial advantage with Silverwing and Vermithor.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Blacks initially gain the upper hand. When Daeron Targaryen arrives on Tessarion, the defenders aren’t overly concerned since Vermithor and Silverwing are far more powerful dragons, making it look like the Blacks have the battle all but won.

That’s when everything falls apart. Instead of fighting for Rhaenyra, Ulf and Hugh suddenly turn their dragons against Tumbleton, burning the town and slaughtering the very army they were sent to protect.

As the chaos unfolds, hidden Green loyalists inside the town open the gates and betray their fellow defenders, allowing the Green army to overrun Tumbleton. What should have been one of Team Black’s greatest victories instead becomes one of its most catastrophic defeats.

The dragonkeeper’s testimony and terrified expression in Episode 3 offered only a glimpse of the horror that engulfed the town. Even Rhaenyra is visibly shaken by what she hears, completely unaware of Ormund’s game. Little does she know that this particular battle in Season 3 will become one of her biggest nightmares—one that would make her grow even more suspicious of the people around her.

HOTD Episode 3 Already Hints at Ulf & Hugh’s Betrayal of Rhaenyra

Between Ulf and Hugh, it’s easier to judge that the former will not remain loyal to Rhaenyra for very long. This does not mean the blacksmith has no hidden agenda, either; it’s just that Ulf is more expressive of his demands and desires. He has been remarkably consistent since his first appearance.

Episode 3 reinforces his longing to embrace his Targaryen heritage, even expressing interest in styling himself as a true Targaryen—a small moment that speaks volumes.

That ambition has always been about more than simply riding a dragon. From the beginning, Ulf has resented the life he believes he was forced to live because of his Targaryen blood, convincing himself that he deserves the wealth, status, and recognition he was denied. Claiming Silverwing only validates that belief rather than changing him.

Hugh, on the other hand, seemingly has a different reason why he would want to betray the queen. In the same episode, he asked Rhaenyra about what kind of life he could expect now that he’s in King’s Landing, stating that his wife had already gone to Tumbleton since there was nothing for her in the capital. Rhaenyra promised she would grant them a house in Visenya’s Hill, but this will have to wait since her plate is full at the moment.

It’s possible his betrayal of Rhaenyra in the future may stem from family troubles; his wife is in Tumbleton already, the place where the Hightower army is gathering. The queen will be sending the dragonseeds to battle, a spectacle we have yet to see in the upcoming episode.

For now, House of the Dragon fans can only speculate about Hugh’s thought process and what ultimately pushes him to side with the Greens. Surely, more context will emerge in Episode 4.

Do you think Ulf White and Hugh Hammer will betray Rhaenyra in the show? Let us know in the comments!

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max.