‘House of the Dragon’: Laena Velaryon’s Decision, Explained

Time jumps and actor adjustments weren’t the one jarring components of HBO’s Home of the Dragon, episode 6. Sunday’s episode of Sport of Thrones prequel sequence ended with a fiery bang for one character. It was surprising and never in a great way for some. Let’s talk about within the spoiler-filled part beneath.

Warning: Spoilers forward.

What determination does Laena make?

Two large decisions come up on the finish of episode 6.

Just like Aemma Targaryen, Laena Velaryon suffers a tough childbirth, unable to push the toddler out. The maester suggests to Laena’s husband Daemon Targaryen that he may “lay open the womb, attempt to take away the toddler by means of the blade.” However there are not any ensures the infant or the mom would survive.

In contrast to Aemma — who dies after King Viserys permits his surgeon to function on her — Laena realizes what is going on on early sufficient to take issues into her personal palms. Earlier than Daemon can have a say, Laena escapes the birthing room and limps outdoors, imploring her dragon Vhagar to breathe hearth onto her. “Dracarys!” she instructions — the Excessive Valyrian (language of the outdated Valyrian Freehold) phrase for “Dragonfire.” Vhagar hesitates, visibly confused by his rider’s stunning request. However ultimately he appears to grasp her ache and helps to finish it, incinerating her in a strong blaze.

Why does Laena kill herself?

Sadly, earlier than going into labor, Laena was already in a nasty place.

We first meet Laena when she’s 12 years outdated, having been carted as much as King’s Touchdown as a younger bride provided to King Viserys. Greater than three years after Viserys rejects her, Laena reunites with the King’s youthful brother Daemon. Daemon, childless, had simply murdered his spouse. He instantly takes a shine to Laena in episode 5.

Ten years later, the pair are married with two daughters. However as Home of the Dragon by no means fails to remind us, sons are what everyone seems to be after. In a scene earlier than Laena’s loss of life, she and Daemon speak concerning the struggles of their marriage. Daemon is stressed, unable to sleep. In addition they talk about Rhaenyra, Daemon’s ex-lover, delivering one other son. Laena clearly laments she hasn’t produced one for Daemon.

“Maybe, I too, am not the spouse you’ll’ve wished for your self … It doesn’t ache me. I’ve made my peace.”

This scene seems to foreshadow what’s to come back. Even the scene wherein Laena speaks to her youngest daughter Rhaena appears to offer a contact of vital exposition, making it clear Laena is certain to Vhagar, “the most important [dragon] on the planet.”

Within the birthing room, Laena overhears the maester inform Daemon that she will not survive a cesarean part to take away the toddler. With out with the ability to see Daemon’s response or hear what determination he makes, Laena instantly flees. This implies she is aware of Daemon will undergo with the surgical procedure, sacrificing her for the smallest likelihood their baby will survive. She thinks Daemon will make the identical alternative as his brother Viserys.

It seems Laena, caught in an sad marriage, thinks she’s going to die it doesn’t matter what. Fairly than undergo with the surgical procedure and bleed to loss of life, she has the company to decide on her ending, one which no prince or king decides for her. Albeit this implies she sacrifices any likelihood, even a small one, for her son to outlive.

One other studying: Daemon wished to avoid wasting Laena

Laena’s birthing scene mirrors the identical state of affairs King Viserys confronted with Queen Aemma. Nevertheless, on this case, the maester would not current Daemon with a robust likelihood his son will survive a C-section. After Daemon discovers his spouse would die from such a surgical procedure, he seems to present a tiny shake of his head, indicating he would not want to undergo with it. In contrast to Viserys, Daemon would not wish to danger his spouse’s life.

On listening to concerning the birthing problems, Laena probably feels disgrace that, as soon as once more, she may not be capable of produce Daemon a male inheritor. She decides to finish her life, after failing to fulfil the aim she was introduced up from a younger age to honor.

Laena additionally seems to need the most effective for Daemon. They talk about Daemon losing all his time studying accounts of “the identical lifeless dragonlords.” Laena says, “However you’re greater than this Daemon. The person I married was greater than this.” Laena seems to have accepted the concept that she has disenchanted Daemon. By taking herself out of the image, she permits Daemon to be free to discover a new spouse and have one other likelihood at producing the male inheritor he wishes.

Within the ebook

In George R. R. Martin’s Fireplace & Blood, the ebook Home of the Dragon relies on, Daemon is not pressured to decide on whether or not to place Laena by a life-threatening C-section. As an alternative, Laena suffers a troublesome beginning and delivers a boy who, like Aemma’s son Baelon, dies after a short while. Laena turns into severely in poor health from grief and fever. Daemon orders a famend maester to avoid wasting her, however he arrives too late. Laena makes an attempt to fly Vhagar one final time earlier than she dies however, fatigued and in poor health, she passes away earlier than she will be able to attain the dragon.