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.
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.
