Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Episodes 1-7 of House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood.During episode 7 of house of the dragon was full of highlights that the season built upon, from Alicent (Olivia Cook) and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) Bumping heads at last and drawing battle lines to Daemon (MattSmith) and marry Rhaenyra to combine their power, one scene is perhaps a little less obvious and even a little confusing. The event that brings Houses Targaryen and Velaryon together in Driftmark is the funeral of Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondel). After fighting with Daemon and her two daughters in Pentos to give birth, the high potential of dying in childbirth leads her to run into the sand and command her dragon Vhagar to burn her with dragon fire.
While this is a death that means Laena must go out on her own terms, it was still a traumatic and painfully tragic moment. When Daemon returns to Westeros and takes Laena’s body and his daughters Baela (Shani Smethurst) and Rhena (Eva Ossei Gerning), the family and extended family gather to bury Laena. Corlys (Steve Toussaint), Rhaenys Targaryen (Eva Best) and Vaemond Velaryon (Wilbert Charles Johnson) is available from Driftmark. Rhaenyra and Laenor (John Macmillan) meet with their sons Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon (Leo Hart) and Lucaerys “Luke” Velaryon (Harvey Sadler). The king Viserys I (Paddy Considine) comes and brings not only Alicent, his newly minted hand Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), but his three children Aegon (Ty Tennant), amond (Leo Ashton) and Helena (Phia Saban). Oh and Larys (Matthew Needham) is there for some reason. It’s a big family affair and as with all family affairs, the tensions are incredibly high.
Why is Daemon laughing during Laena’s funeral?
So why is he laughing in front of his family and extended family in the middle of Laena’s funeral? Well, surprisingly, the problem isn’t Daemon at all. During his eulogy, Vaemond, the younger brother of Corlys on the show, speaks to those assembled in High Valyrian – a language understood by the majority of the people standing there. He talks about Laena’s return to the sea, using flowery words to basically say that he hopes her afterlife is peaceful. The problem arises when he mentions their daughters. Vaemond says, “Lady Laena leaves two trueborn daughters on the shore. Although her mother will not return from her journey, they will all remain linked by blood. Salt flows through Velaryon blood. Ours is fat. Ours is true. And ours must never get any thinner.” At this point, Daemon starts laughing, which understandably causes everyone to stare at him.
Vaemond’s words are an open condemnation of Rhaenyra’s children and align with what Rhaenys says to her husband later in the episode. They also obviously know that Laenor’s sons aren’t really Laenor’s sons and Rhaenys wants Driftmark to go to Baela rather than a bastard. While Rhaenys discusses this privately with Corlys and also discusses the meaning of the legacy, Vaemond openly shames Rhaenyra. When he says Velaryon blood runs thick and true, he looks straight at Rhaenyra and her sons, and Viserys takes notice as well.
Laying your niece down to call her brother and sister-in-law is an odd moment to make up your mind. We saw from Episode 6 when Laena and Daemon were discussing the paternity of the new baby Joffrey, she brushed the thought of paternity issues away even though she knew the truth. It was clear that Leana and Laenor had a close relationship and she probably wouldn’t appreciate that her uncle chose this moment to make a statement while her brother is grieving. Daemon laughs at that moment because Vaemond chooses that moment to blame Rhaenyra for having children with Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr).
According to the book, why is Vaemond doing this?
In a way, it’s fair of Vaemond to talk about it, but this wasn’t the place or the time. The theme of who will inherit Driftmark was a more muted storyline, but one that will grow now that Laenor is presumed dead. While Rhaenys wants Driftmark to be passed to Baela and not Luke, Aemond’s intent is less clear.
In the novel Fire & Bloodthe book that house of the dragon based on by author George RR Martin, Vaemond’s intention with this eulogy is clear. It is of course in his own interest. When Corlys dies (suddenly, which might raise an eyebrow or two), Vaemond steps in to insist that he is Corlys’ true heir. He denounces Rhaenyra’s sons, saying they are illegitimate, and then brushes aside Baela’s and Rhaena’s claim to Driftmark because they are girls, and demands to take his rightful place. It’s odd why Vaemond would think Rhaenys and Corlys wouldn’t approve of a daughter inheriting Driftmark, considering Corlys spent so many years fighting for his wife and her near ascension to the Iron Throne to use.
At this point, of course, Daemon and Rhaenyra are married and Vaemond directly questions the position of their two children. The stories go that Daemon seized Vaemond on Rhaenyra’s orders and she chopped off his head and fed his body to Syrax – and then Viserys cut out the tongues of Vaemond’s five younger cousins to spread the rumor. We saw Viserys threaten to do it in that episode, so there’s a good chance we’ll see a scene like that later.
While book readers now know what is written on the pages of Fire & Blood does not always correspond to what is played on the screen house of the dragon, Vaemond’s intention seems clear. When Corlys dies, he earns the Driftmark Throne.
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