Alicent’s Fourth Child Explained: Who Daeron Targaryen Is & Where He’s Been In House Of The Dragon

WARNING! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 3 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the book on which the show is based!

Alicent’s fourth child, Daeron Targaryen, has finally come into play in House of the Dragon season 3. For those who haven’t read George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, it may have come as a huge shock when it was mentioned in season 2 that Alicent and Viserys have a fourth child, as House of the Dragon had only included her three eldest kids, Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond, so far. Daeron was even missing during season 1’s past timeline when the youngest Targaryen generation was still young kids, leading to plenty of theories that Daeron was cut altogether.

Before House of the Dragon season 2’s release, showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed that Daeron was still a character in the show, as he’s also included in HBO’s breakdown of the Targaryen family tree. Still, it’s curious as to why his parents and siblings never once mentioned him, especially after Viserys’ death in House of the Dragon season 1’s ending. Regardless, after being removed as Hand of the King, his grandfather Otto Hightower became intent on going to Oldtown to oversee Daeron, setting up his season 3 introduction.

House of the Dragon season 3 introduces Ormund Hightower, presenting viewers with the next major obstacle Rhaenyra’s Black Faction must overcome. In episode 3, Ormund seemingly surrenders to Daemon Targaryon and hands over young Daeron. However, when Alicent is given a chance to be reunited with her youngest child, it’s discovered that Ormund sent an imposter. The real Daeron is still with the Hightower lord, ready to carry out his canon role as House of the Dragon continues.

Daeron Targaryen Has Been In Oldtown For Several Years In House Of The Dragon

Image courtesy of Theo Whiteman/HBO

It’s unclear exactly when he was sent to Oldtown, but Daeron Targaryen has been at the seat of House Hightower since at least before the birth of Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey Velaryon. When House of the Dragon season 1’s timeline jumped 10 years from Rhaenyra’s wedding to the birth of her son Joffrey, the only children of Alicent and Viserys who were present at King’s Landing were Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond. With King Viserys I Targaryen’s two eldest sons already in King’s Landing, he sends his youngest to Oldtown to serve as a cupbearer and squire to Lord Hobert Hightower, Otto’s brother.

Doubtlessly a plan concocted by Ser Otto Hightower, Daeron’s upbringing in Oldtown kept Otto and Alicent’s hold over House Hightower despite not having a seat there. Daeron’s time there likely contributed to House of the Dragon‘s characters in Oldtown being fiercer and more fervent supporters of Otto’s schemes, and it also helped that Daeron being raised in Oldtown meant the seat of House Hightower would be guarded by a dragon, as Daeron is bonded with the young dragon Tessarion.

Who Is Daeron Targaryen’s Dragon? Tessarion Explained

With the introduction of Daeron Targaryen, House of the Dragon season 3 also subtly reveals the greater dragon power that Team Green possesses in the Dance of the Dragons. While Aegon and Aemond ride Sunfyre and Vhagar, Helaena isn’t expected to ride Dreamfyre at all in House of the Dragon, as she’s unable to in the book. However, Team Green still has Daeron’s dragon Tessarion to strengthen King Aegon’s forces in the Reach. Furthermore, Daeron is already a dragonrider when the Dance of the Dragon’s battles kick off, so he won’t have to train to command Tessarion.

Also known as the “Blue Queen,” Tessarion and Daeron bonded in canon at some point before he left for Oldtown, but Fire & Blood suggests that he hadn’t actually learned to ride his dragon until leaving King’s Landing. In House of the Dragon, however, it’s revealed that Daeron was sent to Oldtown as an infant, so it’s possible that Tessarion hatched there. Of Team Green’s dragons in House of the Dragon that are of fighting capability, Tessarion is the youngest, further being described as only one-third the size of Vermithor.

What Happens To Daeron Targaryen In The Dance Of The Dragons

Daeron becomes an important piece in Team Green’s war strategy throughout the Dance of the Dragons, though it’s possible that things will play out differently in House of the Dragon. In canon, Daeron and Tessarion participate in the Battle of the Honeywine before Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, but that clearly hasn’t happened in season 3. Instead, Ormund Hightower appears to be headed straight for the First Battle of Tumbleton

The small town of Tumbleton becomes a devastating war zone as Daeron is joined by Ulf White and Hugh Hammer, along with their respective dragons, following their shocking betrayal of Queen Rhaenyra. This is followed up by Aemond Targaryen’s official death in a duel with Daemon, leaving Daeron as King Aegon’s rightful heir. Unfortunately, this status doesn’t last long, as Daeron is killed during the Second Battle of Tumbleton.

While we can expect much of this to unfold as House of the Dragon season 3 continues, the HBO series is sure to adjust the finer details. Daeron is an older, more vengeful character in Fire & Blood, but he has been described somewhat differently in the TV adaptation. It will be interesting to discover what that will mean for the character’s future. Of course, we know for absolute certainty that it won’t be a happy ending for the boy.

Source: Variety

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Network

HBO

Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

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  Fabien Frankel

  Ser Criston Cole