By Okay, listen up. If you’ve been deep into House of the Dragon, you’ve probably heard about Laenor Velaryon. Yeah, I know, his time on-screen wasn’t exactly long enough to build a whole fan club, but trust me—he’s more important than you think. You see, Laenor Velaryon wasn’t just some pretty face in a political marriage. No, no—he was the son of Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, one of the most powerful dudes to ever command a fleet. And his impact? Well, it’s all over the place. It’s like when you accidentally spill coffee on your notebook but end up creating a new “abstract art piece” (totally not just me, right?).
The Velaryon Family Tree: Where Laenor Velaryon Came From
First off, Laenor Velaryon didn’t just stumble into Westeros like, “Hey, I’m here to make a mess.” Nope. He was born into power. His dad, Lord Corlys Velaryon, was a big deal. Not like “Oh, I own a couple of fishing boats,” big—more like “I control the seas,” big. His mom? Rhaenys Targaryen, who, fun fact, was almost Queen until the throne went to her cousin, Viserys. Talk about a major bummer.
Anyway, Laenor Velaryon wasn’t just riding on coattails. He had dragons in his blood, literally. His dragon, Seasmoke, wasn’t exactly the biggest or the most famous, but it was his—and that’s what mattered.
The Family Power Play
- His dad: Corlys Velaryon—The Sea Snake. A living legend and lord of Driftmark. Guy’s got wealth, power, and ships to boot.
- His mom: Rhaenys Targaryen—“The Queen Who Never Was.” Yeah, she never got to sit on the Iron Throne, but oof, she was close. Like, missed it by a hair.
- His marriage: Tied to Rhaenyra Targaryen, the fiery heir-to-the-throne who was, well, a bit of a drama queen (but who isn’t in Westeros?).
Here’s the kicker: His marriage to Rhaenyra wasn’t about love—it was about power. But hey, I guess that’s the Targaryen way. I mean, my romantic life is complicated, but these guys take it to a whole new level.
Laenor Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen: The Not-So-Happily-Ever-After
Now, let’s talk about the marriage—because, oh boy, it’s complicated. Everyone expected Laenor Velaryon and Rhaenyra to be this picture-perfect royal couple, but, spoiler alert: They were anything but.
Yeah, they were both married to each other, but no one was exactly winning any couple’s awards here. Laenor was, well, not exactly into women (which, let’s be honest, was way more of a scandal than it should’ve been). And Rhaenyra? She had other… interests. So, they made it work the only way they could. They were friends, allies even—but romantically? Well, let’s just say their “passionate” moments weren’t exactly the talk of the town.
The Real Drama: When Laenor Velaryon Vanished
Okay, here’s where the plot thickens, because Laenor Velaryon’s disappearance was wild. In the books, he dies in a duel with his lover, Ser Qarl Correy, but House of the Dragon gave us a twist that even George R.R. Martin might’ve been like, “Okay, that’s clever.”
Fast forward past three failed attempts to kill him off, and we find out Laenor Velaryon didn’t die. He faked his death. Yes, he faked it. One minute, he’s burning on a pyre, and the next? Poof. Gone. He hopped on a boat and sailed off into the sunset, never to be heard from again. Talk about the ultimate plot twist.
So, Why Did He Do It?
- Maybe he wanted freedom? I mean, would you want to stay in a marriage of convenience? Hard pass.
- Or maybe he just couldn’t deal with the chaos? I get it. My last attempt at making a batch of homemade bagels was pure carnage.
Who knows? But whatever his reasons were, Laenor Velaryon didn’t take the easy road. He chose his road, even if it meant disappearing from the drama.
The Legacy Laenor Velaryon Left Behind
Okay, so the guy goes off into the unknown—what’s left? His legacy, that’s what. Rhaenyra’s kids, all three of them, are legitimately Velaryons in name, and that’s a big deal. Sure, the rumors about their paternity were like a bad gossip train, but they carried the Velaryon bloodline forward.
I’m not saying Laenor Velaryon was a perfect guy—he wasn’t. But his name? His name was like a shield for Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne. Without him? Things might’ve gone a whole lot worse.
His Kids: The Velaryon Legacy Lives On
- Jacaerys Velaryon: The heir to the Iron Throne (if we ignore all the pesky “legitimacy” issues).
- Lucerys Velaryon: Heir to Driftmark. A little too bold for his good, but hey, he had the right blood.
- Joffrey Velaryon: The youngest. Honestly, we don’t get enough of him, but he’s there, living the legacy.
In a way, Laenor Velaryon helped keep the Velaryon name in the running, even when he wasn’t physically around. If he hadn’t “tied the knot” with Rhaenyra, who knows where the Velaryons would’ve ended up.
Laenor Velaryon: Quiet Heroism in a Sea of Madness
Here’s the thing. You’ve got dragons, blood feuds, and enough political backstabbing to fill an entire season of Survivor—but in the middle of it all, there’s Laenor Velaryon. He wasn’t a warrior, he wasn’t a king, and he sure wasn’t the loudest voice in the room. But he was a guy who knew when to shut up, do what needed to be done, and keep his head down. Honestly? Same. That’s like me at my family’s Thanksgiving dinner—except with fewer dragons and way more mashed potatoes.
Laenor Velaryon Wasn’t About Power. He Was About Surviving.
- No, he didn’t want the throne—who does? (Well, some people do, but that’s a whole different story.)
- He wanted to live a life where he could breathe, not choke on court politics.
- And let’s be real: It was probably hard to be the son of a man as legendary as Corlys Velaryon. There’s no escaping that shadow.
But instead of cracking under the pressure, Laenor Velaryon made his way on his terms. I respect that. Wish I had his “I’ll leave if I want to” energy.
The End of Laenor Velaryon?
So, what’s next for Laenor Velaryon? Could he show up again in a future season? Maybe. There’s a lot of speculation. Wouldn’t it be crazy if he popped back up, older, wiser, and possibly with a new identity? I mean, he disappeared on us like the original Houdini. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.
But here’s the thing: Even if Laenor Velaryon never returns, his legacy isn’t going anywhere. His choices were part of what kept House Velaryon alive in the game. And that’s pretty damn significant.
The Weird Thing About Laenor Velaryon and Me
Alright, real talk: Laenor Velaryon and I have one thing in common. We’re both misunderstood. He was the quiet guy, caught in the middle of political games. I, too, have found myself in situations where I’m like, “Wait—this wasn’t in the manual?” (Looking at you, first attempt at sourdough).