As a longtime reader of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, I must say that the recent developments in “House of the Dragon” have been quite intriguing for me. The show has always had a knack for weaving together complex tales and offering unexpected twists, much like a fine Valyrian steel sword being carefully tempered in the fires of drama.
Spoilers ahead for the Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon.
Following the conclusion of Season 2 for “House of the Dragon,” speculation has started about when we’ll see Season 3, as it promises to delve deeper into the convoluted Targaryen family lineage. As the last credits unfolded, three dragons from “House of the Dragon” had new riders in the form of dragonseeds, leaving many wondering if Rhaena will soon claim the wild dragon in the Vale. The armies of the Blacks and Greens are now on the move or setting sail, signaling an impending war that should make for an explosive Season 3 premiere.
Even after the episode’s conclusion, I find myself reflecting on a less prominent scene and its potential implications in contradicting a speculation from George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” Specifically, I ponder over a point that seems to challenge the origin of Corlys Velaryon and the two illegitimate sons of Hull, as Martin never explicitly confirmed this detail.
New Background On Alyn And Addam Of Hull
In Season 2 of “House of the Dragon,” there’s been no secret about who Alyn and Addam of Hull’s father is – even Rhaenys hinted it to her husband before her tragic death. It’s evident that Corlys is their biological father, and Addam seems to accept his status as Corlys’ bastard. However, Alyn expressed strong feelings towards Corlys during the Season 2 finale. He told Corlys directly:
Are you offering help now, after all these years? Is this your way of reminding me to be grateful? Do you understand our struggles? Growing up without a father, being looked down upon as bastards, never knowing if we’d have enough food for the day? Have you ever known what it’s like to feel hunger, grief, or shame? I spent my days selling fish in the market from early morning until sunset, saving every penny to survive the winter. I watched the man who was my father stroll by with his son and heir, wrapped in fur, enjoying sweets after dinner by the fire. Now, both the boy and his sister are gone, replaced by another heir.
From the expression on Corlys’ face, it’s evident he hadn’t prepared to embark on this emotionally taxing journey with Alyn! Frankly, considering all that has unfolded since Season 1, the losses Alyn mentioned – Laenor, Laena, and Lucerys – seem like they occurred quite some time in the past. Moreover, it appears that Alyn was yet to complete his address to the Sea Snake.
Indeed, now you recall that I exist! It seems you’re impulsively considering to bestow some kindness upon me. I am a man of integrity and will serve you as duty requires. However, if it pleases you, I’ll kindly decline any assistance offered. If fortune favors me in this war, I shall persist as I started, self-reliant.
In this scene, it appeared that Alyn, rather than his brother Addam, inherited the distinctive white hair of the Targaryens and Velaryons. This was an emotional moment between a father and his supposedly illegitimate son, played by Abubakar Salim, who delivered a powerful performance opposite Steve Toussaint. However, this scene didn’t reveal anything new or surprising about the show.
In the captivating world of George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood”, I found myself entangled in the tangled web of these two seemingly noble brothers, whose relationship was anything but straightforward. Alyn’s subtle reference to Laenor during his speech stirred whispers that had long haunted the pages of our fictional Targaryen history book.
What George R.R. Martin Wrote In Fire & Blood
As a seasoned reader of epic fantasy novels, I must warn my fellow enthusiasts: brace yourselves for some major spoilers ahead! If you haven’t read George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” and are yet to reach the dragonseeds section in “The Dying of the Dragons – The Red Dragon and the Gold,” it might be wise to put off this discussion until you’ve had a chance to immerse yourself in that captivating chapter. Trust me, the intrigue and excitement that unfold within those pages are worth savoring without any advance knowledge. After all, I’ve found that the best part of reading such richly crafted stories lies in discovering their secrets for oneself. Enjoy your journey through Westeros!
In the same vein as how the acquisition of Seasmoke by Addam subtly hinted at Laenor’s off-screen demise, given the dragonrider rules from George R.R. Martin’s books and his faked death in Season 1, the latest reference to Laenor carries a much deeper significance when it comes to “Fire & Blood” than merely Alyn using this to manipulate Corlys in the series.
In the book, Addam undoubtedly took possession of Seasmoke, and it mentions a boy whose ancestry is still debated among scholars as the dragonseed. At 16, Marilda gave birth to Addam, while she was just barely 18 when she had Alyn. The boys’ appearances indicated they were bastards with Valyrian blood, but their father’s identity remained unknown until a call for dragonseeds was issued.
And she didn’t claim that Corlys was their father, but Laenor. Martin writes:
It was acknowledged that these individuals bore a resemblance to Laenor Velaryon, and it was indeed true that Ser Laenor occasionally visited the shipyard in Hull. Yet, there was widespread doubt among Dragonstone and Driftmark residents about Marilda’s assertion, as Laenor Velaryon’s lack of interest in women was widely known. No one accused her of lying, but… it was none other than Lord Corlys himself who presented the boys to Prince Jacaerys for the Sowing. With all his children gone and having experienced betrayal from his nephews and cousins, the Sea Snake appeared eager to embrace these new potential grandchildren.
he claimed they were not fathered by Laenor’s son (the Sea Snake), but the Sea Snake himself.
Lord Corlys didn’t have the same romantic inclinations as Ser Laenor, instead, he was deeply connected with the Hull shipyards, spending more time there compared to his son. Princess Rhaenys, his wife, possessed a fiery Targaryen spirit that likely wouldn’t have tolerated her husband fathering children with a girl much younger than herself, especially one from a shipwright family. It wasn’t until after the passing of Princess Rhaenys that Lord Corlys felt secure enough to acknowledge his illegitimate offspring publicly.
In the book and series, Corlys appears to be the more probable father of the bastards, but Laenor remained a possibility. However, in House of the Dragon, a comparison scene between Corlys and Laenor walking through the market with their younger selves suggests that Laenor might not have been old enough to father Addam and Alyn, according to the show’s portrayal.
Just as House of the Dragon clarified the story about Daemon’s second exile due to his relationship with Rhaenyra in early Season 1, so too does the HBO series appear to have resolved the question of who Addam and Alyn’s father is – Corlys, the Sea Snake. The series leaves no room for doubt that Corlys was involved in an affair with a commoner while married to Rhaenys, rather than trying to pass off the young men as products of any other relationship.
As a dedicated gamer immersed in the world of “Fire & Blood,” I ponder if this particular twist will significantly impact the grand scheme of things in the series’ future. Given the escalating conflicts between the Blacks and Greens by the end of Season 2, it seems unlikely that Corlys fathering bastards would be their top priority. Moreover, with the show’s narrative diverging from the books, it’s become increasingly challenging to predict where the story might lead next. However, as a fan who revels in these intriguing moments of debunking and clarification, I can’t help but appreciate them for adding depth to the rich tapestry of this captivating saga.
As a devoted fan, I might just revisit “Fire & Blood” during the break between “House of the Dragon” seasons, hoping to catch any details I may have missed while watching Season 2. If history repeats itself and we have another long wait like last time, we might not see Season 3 until 2026. But don’t worry, you can stream all eight seasons of “Game of Thrones” and the first two seasons of “House of the Dragon” with a Max subscription. And for those looking ahead, our 2024 TV schedule offers a glimpse into many exciting viewing options that are yet to come!
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2024-08-06 08:07