In the Game of Thrones universe, marriage is seldom a cause for celebration. Of course, there are certain exceptions. Robb Stark’s marriage to Talisa was a joyous (albeit short-lived) partnership. Catelyn and Eddard Stark, though their marriage was arranged, ultimately fell deeply in love with one another. However, these ill-fated characters are the exception that proves the rule; marriages between members of Royal Houses are generally political arrangements designed to keep peace in Westeros.
This tradition of carefully concocted partnerships has already been explored in House of the Dragon. Princess Rhaenyra was named heir to the Iron Throne by her father, King Viserys, which made taking her hand in marriage an incredibly valuable proposition. The Princess was initially reluctant to choose a suitor, but when she engaged in behaviors unbecoming of a royal woman with her uncle Daemon, the King was outraged and demanded that Rhaenyra marry Laenor Velaryon post-haste.
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House Velaryon and House Targaryen are the two most powerful houses in Westeros during the time period depicted in House of the Dragon. Despite the important political implications of their union, there are many reasons to believe that their married life will be fraught with drama and possibly short-lived. What will come of this royal marriage?
A Tense Wedding Spells the Death of Laenor’s Longtime Lover
HBO
A royal wedding should be a massive celebration, but the union between Rhaenyra and Laenor was tense, to say the least, and it ended in utter chaos. Laenor Velaryon’s romantic partner, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, confronts Ser Criston Cole, Princess Rhaenyra’s personal bodyguard, and tells him that he is aware of the sultry dalliance Cole and the Princess had had. Enraged, Ser Cole proceeds to beat Joffrey to death as the wedding guests look on in horror.
RELATED: House of the Dragon: Fabien Frankel Says Ser Criston Cole ‘Changes a Great Deal’ During the Show
The wedding guests are all sent home, and the ceremony is moved to a private locale nearby. Understandably, Laenor is devastated by the death of his partner, and he completes his vows to Rhaenyra with a shell-shocked expression on his face. The next shot shows that Joffrey’s blood is still drying on the floor of the royal hall. Obviously, the legacy of this tragic death will permanently taint Laenor and Rhaenyra’s marriage, and it’s difficult to imagine how they could get past it.
Daemon Targaryan as a Protective Uncle and a Jilted Potential Spouse
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Though he is one of the most influential members of the royal House, Daemon has little allegiance to House Targaryen. Many suspected that he would be chosen as the heir to King Viserys, but the two have a somewhat strained relationship, largely due to Daemon’s continued insolence.
RELATED: House of the Dragon: What Will Come of Daemon and Rhaenyra’s Relationship?
In a recent episode, “King of the Narrow Sea,” Daemon and Rhaenyra (his niece) had a scandalous encounter at a brothel. Apparently, that is not entirely unheard of, as House Targaryen has utilized incestuous relationships for years in order to maintain the royal bloodline. When Daemon proposes that the King allow the two to marry in the Targaryen tradition, Viserys refuses. If Daemon still wants to wed his niece, it will mean getting rid of Laenor, in one way or another.
Will House Velaryon Be Friend or Foe to House Targaryen?
King Viserys’ decision to marry his daughter to Laenor was carefully planned. The King had previously slighted the family by marrying Lady Alicent Hightower instead of his child cousin, Laena Velaryon. This union could potentially serve to unite the two houses, which would be an incredibly important alliance for House Targaryen in any upcoming conflicts.
Laenor’s father, Ser Corlys Velaryon, is a mighty naval warrior known as the “Sea Snake,” and his mother is Rhaenys Targaryen, who was the front-runner to take the Iron Throne before King Viserys was chosen instead due to her gender, thus earning her the moniker “Queen Who Never Was.” In light of King Viserys’ rapidly declining health, the throne will soon be vacated, and Rhaenys would have a strong claim. Rhaenyra will need to maintain her undesirable marriage and also produce heirs with Laenor if she wants to establish a new royal lineage.
Laenor and Rhaenyra’s marriage was political, and politics are often an unpleasant affair. It’s unlikely that the two will ever develop a loving partnership. At the same time, if Rhaenyra is to ascend to the Iron Throne, she will need to keep the marriage afloat, as having House Velaryon reject her claim would be a difficult hurdle to overcome. One of the most difficult challenges of royal life can be arranged marriages, but Rhaenyra will soon need to learn what it takes to be an effective queen, and remaining married to Laenor will be a big part of that.
