A popular House of the Dragon fan theory suggests that Aemond Targaryen is actually the father of Helaena Targaryen’s children on the HBO series.
The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 1, Episode 10, “The Black Queen,” which debuted Sunday, Oct. 23, on HBO.
For all of the brilliant set dressing, impeccably written scenes and mind-bending visual effects, HBO’s hit House of the Dragon is a straight-up soap opera. Fans love it for that — so much so that rather than theories about the coming civil war, some are diving deep into a theory that says Prince Aemond Targaryen is the father of Helaena Targaryen’s children, not King Aegon II.
George R..R. Martin wrote Fire & Blood from the prospective of a Westeros historian — so some rumored events, like Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen’s illl-fated-tryst with Ser Criston Cole, did make it into the text. Others, however, may be entirely absent. Which is why keen-eyed fans believe they’ve noticed subtle suggestions in the HBO series that Aemond and Helaena are lovers and that King Aegon’s heirs may actually be his nephews two times over. However, there is a key coincidence in that book that becomes a heartbreaking reveal if Aemond and Helaena are, in fact, in love.
Why Fans Think House of the Dragon’s Aemond and Helaena Are Lovers
The seeds for the Helaemond ship are planted in Season 1, Episode 7, “Driftmark.” Young Aemond and Aegon are watching Helaena mutter to herself, seemingly gifted with the power of prophecy. Her family sees it as madness. Aegon insults her and scoffs at the idea of marrying her. Aemond, however, says he would “do his duty” if he were the one betrothed to his sister. He thinks it would “strengthen the family.” Aegon is later — without question — an inattentive husband. So perhaps Aemond, either out a sense of duty or something more, is the brother who fathered Helaena’s children?
During King Viserys’ last supper with his family, there are a number of other nods to Aemond’s affection for Helaena. He objects to his nephew Jacerys asking Helaena to dance. The episode makes it seem like Aemond levies his insult about his “strong nephews” because of that dance, rather than his general animus towards that wing of House of the Dragon. Helaena is frequently next to Aemond, including at his brother’s coronation. And in that scene she is seen touching his arm in a way that some fans read as romantic.
The other bit of evidence comes in Season 1, Episode 9, “The Green Council” when the not quite villainous Alicent Hightower is looking for Aegon. Helaena’s voiceover in the beginning of that scene seems to apply to the Iron Throne, but could also be subtext about romantic jealousy. Aemond later walks into Helaena’s room unannounced and in a way that some fans read as familiar. He might have walked in to find his mother, but he wouldn’t know the King had died. Perhaps he was just there to see his family?
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A Fire & Blood Coincidence Can Break Helaemond Fans
Since House of the Dragon has that soap opera energy, Aegon’s brother coveting his wife makes sense. Yet there is a coincidence in Fire & Blood that makes Aemond and Helaena’s possible love affair more tragic: Helaena defenestrates herself on the same day that Aemond dies in battle. The reason for her suicide is not explained, but fans have one idea.
“It is unclear why she chose that day and Aemond’s death isn’t even mentioned as a possible cause because she would have no way of knowing,” wrote one fan named Cat on Twitter. “Unless…she sees [him die in a vision].”
Of all the women in House of the Dragon, Helaena Targaryen has the least agency. How little control these powerful women have over their lives is the central theme of the show. Adding a relationship in which Helaena is a willing participant and may even be truly cared for would be a gift for that character. But so far, Helaemond is just a popular fan theory.
House of the Dragon Season 1 is currently streaming on HBO Max. Season 2 debuts in 2024.
